KR102164776B1 - Absorbent article with exudate management layer - Google Patents

Abstract

The absorbent article may have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article may further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer may be located on the body-facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, an exudate management layer may be located between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component that defines an opening for direct passage of body exudate into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component that overlaps at least in part with the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends longitudinally of the absorbent article in a direction toward the rear region of the absorbent article.

Description

Absorbent article with exudate management layer

The present invention is directed to an absorbent article with an exudate management layer.

The primary function of personal hygiene absorbent articles is to absorb and retain body exudates such as urine and fecal matter, as well as the desired additional properties that allow less exudate from the absorbent article to leak out and make the wearer of the absorbent article feel dry. Currently, a wide variety of products for absorption of body exudates are available in the form of diapers, training pants, and incontinence devices. These products generally have an absorbent core positioned between the body facing liquid permeable topsheet layer and the garment facing liquid impermeable layer. The edges of the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer are often bonded together at their periphery to form a seal to contain the absorbent core and body exudates received into the product through the topsheet layer. In use, these products may have front and rear waist regions that surround the wearer's lower body and can remain in place on the wearer's body.

However, absorbent articles often do not prevent leakage of body exudates. Some body exudates, such as solid and semi-solid fecal material, are difficult to penetrate the topsheet layer of absorbent articles as easily as urine, and tend to diffuse across the surface of the topsheet layer under the influence of gravity, motion, and pressure by the wearer of the absorbent article. There is this. These body exudates, often directed around the circumference of the absorbent article, can increase the likelihood of stains and leaks on the wearer's skin, making skin cleansing difficult.

One additional problem is that these conventional absorbent article products may not always have an adequate fit on the wearer's body, which can lead to increased levels of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article and cause discomfort during wearing of the absorbent article. Is that there is. Many conventional absorbent article products are flat, or have a flat area before use, while the wearer's body is contoured. Even if the flat absorbent article product may bend during use, it may not fully conform to the wearer's body, resulting in a gap between the product and the wearer's skin, making it more difficult to penetrate body exudates, especially the topsheet layer of the product It can lead to leakage of body exudates, such as solid and semi-solid fecal material. The wearer's movement can also undesirably deform the product and the fold lines within the product, creating a path for body exudates to move around and leak from the absorbent article.

There is a need for an absorbent article that can adequately reduce the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. There is a need for absorbent articles that can improve body exudate management. There is a need for absorbent articles that can minimize the amount of body exudate that comes into contact with the wearer's skin.

(Patent Document 1) International Publication WO 2016/053230 A1
(Patent Document 2) US Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0088716 A1
(Patent Document 3) US Patent Application Publication No. US 2014/0121624 A1

In various embodiments, the absorbent article may be longitudinal and transverse; Longitudinal center line and transverse center line; A front region, a rear region, and a central region located between the front and rear regions; A front area transverse distal edge, a rear area transverse distal edge, and a pair of longitudinal side edges extending between and connecting the front area transverse distal edge and the rear area transverse distal edge; A topsheet layer defining a body facing surface of the absorbent article, a liquid impermeable layer defining a garment facing surface of the absorbent article, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer; And an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the top sheet layer; The exudate management layer comprises: a first component at least partially defining an opening in the exudate management layer; And a second component connected to the first component through a primary fold and extending from the primary fold in a longitudinal direction toward a rear region of the absorbent article, wherein the opening comprises the transverse center line and The rear region is located between the transverse distal edges.

In various embodiments, the exudate management layer is located on the body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, an exudate management layer is located between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core.

In various embodiments, the absorbent article further has an acquisition layer.

In various embodiments, the second component includes a secondary fold.

In various embodiments, the absorbent article further has a third component connected to the primary component of the exudate management layer through the third component primary fold. In various embodiments, the third component extends longitudinally from the third component primary fold toward the front region of the absorbent article.

In various embodiments, the second component is at least partially overlaid with the first component. In various embodiments, the second component is at least partially overlaid below the first component.

In various embodiments, the absorbent article further has a pair of opposing anti-leak flaps extending longitudinally of the absorbent article.

In various embodiments, the topsheet layer comprises a support layer comprising a plurality of fibers and opposing first and second surfaces; A protrusion layer comprising a plurality of fibers and opposing inner and outer surfaces, wherein a second surface of the support layer is in contact with the inner surface of the protrusion layer, and at least one of the support layer and the protrusion layer comprises the support layer and the The protrusion layer, the fluid entangled fibers of the other of the protrusion layers; The plurality of hollow protrusions formed of a first plurality of fibers of the protrusion layer, wherein the plurality of hollow protrusions extend from an outer surface of the protrusion layer in a direction away from the support layer. ; And a ground section, wherein the plurality of hollow protrusions are surrounded by the ground section.

In various embodiments, the absorbent core has a body facing surface and a protrusion extending away from the body facing surface of the absorbent core.

In various embodiments, the second component includes at least one opening.

1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 with a portion cut away for clarity.
3 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article.
4A is an exploded cross-sectional view of the absorbent article of FIG. 3 taken along line 4A-4A.
4B is an exploded cross-sectional view of the absorbent article of FIG. 3 taken along line 4B-4B.
5 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article.
6A is an exploded cross-sectional view of the absorbent article of FIG. 5 taken along line 6A-6A.
6B is an exploded cross-sectional view of the absorbent article of FIG. 5 taken along line 6B-6B.
7 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article.
8A is an exploded cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of the absorbent article of FIG. 7 taken along line 8A-8A.
8B is an exploded cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of the absorbent article of FIG. 7 taken along line 8B-8B.
9A is an exploded cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the absorbent article of FIG. 7 taken along line 9A-9A.
9B is an exploded cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the absorbent article of FIG. 7 taken along line 9B-9B.
10 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a topsheet layer.
11 is a cross-sectional view of the top sheet layer of FIG. 10 taken along line 11-11.
12 is a cross-sectional view of the top sheet layer of FIG. 10 taken along line 11-11, showing possible directions of movement of fibers within the top sheet layer due to a fluid entanglement process.
13 is a micrograph of a cross-sectional view of a portion of a foam and fiber composite.
FIG. 14 is a micrograph of a top view of the foam and fiber composite of FIG. 13 with the fibrous material visible to an observer.
FIG. 15 is a photomicrograph of a top view of the foam and fiber composite of FIG. 13 with a second plane of foam material and a portion of the fibers visible to an observer.
16A-16D are cross-sectional views taken in the longitudinal direction of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer.
17 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer in fluid communication with an absorbent core.
18 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer in fluid communication with an absorbent core.
19 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer.
20 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer.
21 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer.
22 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an exudate management layer.
23 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article.
24 is a perspective view illustrating the setup of an imaging system used to determine the percent open area of a fluid entangled laminate web.
25 is a perspective view illustrating a setup of an imaging system used to determine the height of a protrusion of a fluid entangled laminate web.
Repeated use of reference characters in the specification and drawings is intended to indicate the same or similar features or elements of the invention.

The present invention is directed to an absorbent article that may have improved compliance with the body of a wearer of an absorbent article that provides improved inhalation and retention of body exudates such as fecal material. The absorbent article can have longitudinal, transverse, and depth directions. The absorbent article can have a front region, a back region, and a central region. The absorbent article may have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article may further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer may be located on the body-facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, an exudate management layer may be located between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component that at least partially defines an opening for direct passage of body exudate into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component connected to the first component. The first component can provide the exudate management layer with a first height dimension, and the second component can provide the exudate management layer with a second height dimension that is greater than the first height dimension.

Justice:

As used herein, the term “absorbent article” refers to an article that is located facing or in proximity to (ie, adjacent to) the body of the wearer and may absorb and contain various liquid, solid, and semi-solid exudates discharged from the body. do. Such absorbent articles, as described herein, are not washed for reuse or otherwise restored, but are discarded after a limited period of use. It should be understood that the present invention can be applied to a variety of disposable absorbent articles including, but not limited to, diapers, training pants, youth panties, swimming pants, and incontinence products, and the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

As used herein, the term “airlaid” refers to a web made by an airlaying process herein. In the airlaying process, bundles of small fibers having a typical length in the range of about 3 to about 52 mm are separated and entrapped in an air supply and then deposited on a forming screen, usually with the aid of a vacuum supply. The randomly deposited fibers are then bonded together using hot air to activate, for example, a binder component or latex adhesive. Airlaying is taught, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,640,810 to Laursen et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

As used herein, the term “bonded” means bonding, bonding, connecting, attaching, and the like of two elements. Two elements will be considered bonded together when they are directly bonded to each other or indirectly bonded to each other, such as when bonded to an intermediate element. Bonding may occur, for example, through adhesives, pressure bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, sewing, sealing, and/or welding.

As used herein, the term "bonded carded web" refers to a combing or carding (combing) or carding ( carding) refers to a web made of staple fibers delivered through a unit. These materials may be bonded together by a method that may include point bonding, through air bonding, ultrasonic bonding, adhesive bonding, or the like.

As used herein, the term “coform” refers to a composite material comprising a stabilized matrix or mixture of thermoplastic fibers and a second non-thermoplastic material herein. As an example, the coform material may be manufactured by a process in which at least one meltblown die head is placed near a chute through which another material is added to the web while the web is being formed. Such other materials include, but are not limited to, fibrous organic materials and superabsorbent particles such as cotton, rayon, recycled paper, wood-based or non-wood-based pulp such as cotton, rayon, recycled paper, pulp fluff, inorganic and/or organic absorbent materials, treated It may also contain polymer staple fibers and the like. Some examples of such coform materials are disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,100,324 to Anderson et al., 4,818,464 to Lau, 5,284,703 to Everhart et al., and 5,350,624 to Georger et al. It is incorporated by reference in the specification.

As used herein, the term “conjugate fibers” refers to fibers formed from at least two polymer sources that are extruded from separate extruders and spun together to form one fiber. Conjugate fibers are also sometimes referred to as bicomponent fibers or multicomponent fibers. The polymer is arranged in distinct regions positioned substantially uniformly across the cross-section of the conjugate fibers and extends continuously along the length of the conjugate fibers. The configuration of such conjugated fibers may be, for example, a sheath/core arrangement in which one polymer is surrounded by another sea) may be an arrangement. Conjugate fibers are taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,108,820 to Kaneko et al., 4,795,668 to Krueger et al., 5,540,992 to Marcher et al., 5,336,552 to Strack et al. , For all purposes, each of these is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In the case of bicomponent fibers, the polymer may be present in 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 or any desired ratio. In addition, polymer additives such as processing aids may be included in each area.

As used herein, the term “machine direction” (MD) refers to the length of a fiber in the direction in which the fiber is made, which refers to the width of the fiber in a direction generally perpendicular to the machine direction, “cross machine direction. "In contrast to (CD).

As used herein, the term "meltblown web" refers to a converging high speed in which the molten thermoplastic material is extruded as molten fiber through a number of fine, usually circular die capillaries to attenuate the fibers of the molten thermoplastic It refers to a nonwoven web formed by a process that is extruded into a gas (eg, air) stream to reduce their diameter to a diameter that may be a microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by a high-velocity gas flow and are deposited on the collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Buten et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In general, the meltblown fibers may also be microfibers that are substantially continuous or discontinuous, generally smaller than 10 μm in diameter and are generally tacky when deposited onto a collecting surface.

As used herein, the terms “nonwoven” or “nonwoven web” refer to a web having a structure of individual fibers or yarns that are interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner as in knitted fabrics herein. Nonwovens or webs are formed by many processes, such as melt blown processes, spunbond processes, through-air bonded carded web (also known as BCW and TABCW) processes, and the like. The basis weight of the nonwoven web may generally vary, such as from about 5, 10 or 20 gsm to about 120, 125 or 150 gsm.

As used herein, the term “spunbond web” refers to a web containing small diameter substantially continuous fibers. The fibers are extruded from the molten thermoplastic material from the capillaries of a plurality of fine, generally circular spinnerettes and then the diameter of the extruded fibers is determined, for example, by extractive stretching and/or other known spunbonding mechanisms. It is formed by rapidly decreasing it. The production of spunbond webs is, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., 3,338,992 to Kinney, 3,341,394 to Kinney, and Hartman. 3,502,763, 3,502,538 by Levy, 3,542,615 by Dobo et al., and 5,382,400 by Pike et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Spunbond fibers are generally not sticky when deposited on the collecting surface. Spunbond fibers may sometimes have a diameter of less than about 40 μm, often about 5 to about 20 μm.

As used herein, the terms "superabsorbent polymer", "superabsorbent" or "SAP" will be used interchangeably and refer to polymers capable of absorbing and retaining extremely large amounts of liquid relative to their own weight. something to do. Water-absorbing polymers, classified as crosslinkable hydrogels, absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding and other polar forces with water molecules. The water absorption capacity of SAP is based in part on the degree of ionization (a factor of the ionic concentration of the aqueous solution) and the functional polar group of SAP, which has an affinity for water. SAP is typically prepared by polymerization of acrylic acid combined with sodium hydroxide in the presence of an initiator to form the sodium polyacrylate salt (sometimes referred to as sodium polyacrylate). In order to prepare a superabsorbent polymer, polyacrylamide copolymer, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, crosslinked polyethylene oxide and starch-bonded copolymer of polyacrylonitrile and Other materials such as are also used. The SAP may be present in the absorbent article in the form of particles or fibers or as a coating layer on other materials or fibers.

Absorbent supplies:

The present invention is directed to an absorbent article that may have improved compliance with the body of a wearer of an absorbent article that provides improved inhalation and retention of body exudates such as fecal material. The absorbent article can have longitudinal, transverse, and depth directions. The absorbent article can have a front region, a back region, and a central region. The absorbent article may have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article may further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer may be located on the body-facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, an exudate management layer may be located between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component that at least partially defines an opening for direct passage of body exudate into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component connected to the first component. The first component can provide the exudate management layer with a first height dimension, and the second component can provide the exudate management layer with a second height dimension that is greater than the first height dimension.

1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, 6B, 7, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B, the absorbent article 10 of the present invention. ) Is illustrated in the form of a diaper. The present invention is designed to be worn around the lower body of the wearer without departing from the scope of the present invention. Please understand the point. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article 10, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article 10 with portions cut out for clarity. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, 6B, 7, 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B show exemplary absorbent articles 10 with exudate management layer 40 It provides an additional illustration of the embodiments.

The absorbent article 10 may have a longitudinal direction (X), a transverse direction (Y), and a depth direction (Z). The absorbent article 10 may have a front region 12, a rear region 14, and a central region 16 positioned between the front region 12 and the rear region 14. The absorbent article 10 comprises a first transverse distal edge 20, a second transverse distal edge 22 opposite the first transverse distal edge 20, and first and second transverse distal edges 20. And 22) a pair of opposite longitudinal side edges 24 extending therebetween and connecting them. The absorbent article 10 may have a wearer facing, liquid permeable topsheet layer 30 and a garment facing, liquid impermeable layer 36. The absorbent core 38 may be positioned between the topsheet layer 30 and the liquid impermeable layer 36. The absorbent article 10 can have an exudate management layer 40 in fluid communication with the topsheet layer 30. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 is a topsheet layer, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A and 6B, for example. It may be located on the body facing surface 32 of 30. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 is, for example, a topsheet layer, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B. 30) and the absorbent core 38. Both the topsheet layer 30 and the liquid impermeable layer 36 can extend over the outermost peripheral edges of the absorbent core 38 and are circumferentially using bonding techniques known to form a sealed peripheral region. They can be completely or partially bonded together. For example, the topsheet layer 30 and the liquid impermeable layer 36 may be bonded together by adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, or any other suitable bonding technique known in the art.

In various embodiments where the absorbent article 10 is an incontinence product such as a diaper, training pant, children's pant, swimming pool, or adult incontinence pant, the absorbent article 10 may be worn around the lower body of the wearer, and 230) and leg openings 232. The absorbent article 10 may be bonded to the liquid impermeable layer 36, for example, generally adjacent to the lateral outer edges of the liquid impermeable layer 36, for example, by means of an adhesive or the like. It may have members 240 and 242. Alternatively, leg elastic members 240 and 242 may be disposed between different layers of absorbent article 10. A wide variety of elastic materials can be used for the leg elastic members 240 and 242. Suitable elastic materials may include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomer materials. The elastic materials can be stretched and fixed to the substrate, can be fixed to the corrugated substrate, or can be elasticized or contracted after being fixed to the substrate, for example by application of heat, so that an elastic contractive force is imparted to the substrate.

In various embodiments, the absorbent article 10 may have waist elastic members 244 and 246 that may be formed from any suitable elastic material. In such embodiments, suitable elastic materials may include, but are not limited to, sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomer polymer. The elastic material can be stretched and bonded to the substrate, can be bonded to a corrugated substrate, or can be elasticized or contracted, for example by application of heat, after being bonded to the substrate, so that an elastic contractive force is imparted to the substrate. However, it will be appreciated that the waist elastic members 244 and 246 may be omitted from the absorbent article 10 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In various embodiments, absorbent article 10 may include a fastener system. The fastener system may include one or more rear fasteners 250 and one or more front fasteners 252. The fastener system portion may be included in the front region 12, the rear region 14, or both regions. The fastener system can be configured to secure the absorbent article 10 around the wearer's waist and hold the absorbent article 10 in place when in use. In one embodiment, the rear fastener 250 may include one or more materials bonded together to form a composite ear, as is known in the art. For example, the composite fastener may be composed of an elastic component 254, a nonwoven carrier or hook substrate 256, and a fastening component 258.

Top sheet layer:

The topsheet layer 30 defines a body-facing surface 32 of the absorbent article 10 that can directly contact the wearer's body and is liquid permeable to receive body exudates. The topsheet layer 30 is preferably provided for comfort and serves to direct body exudates away from the wearer's body through its own structure and towards the absorbent core 38. The topsheet layer 30 preferably retains little or no liquid within its structure, thus providing a relatively comfortable and non-irritating surface next to the wearer's skin of the absorbent article 10.

The topsheet layer 30 may be a single material layer, or alternatively may be multiple layers stacked together. This topsheet layer 30 is one or more woven sheets, one or more fibrous nonwoven sheets, one or more film sheets such as blown films or extruded films, which may be single or multi-layered by themselves, reticulated open cells or closed cell foams. Can be composed of any material such as one or more foam sheets, coated nonwoven sheets, or a combination of any of these materials. Such a combination may be laminated adhesively, thermally or ultrasonically to a unified flat sheet structure to form the top sheet layer 30.

In various embodiments, the topsheet layer 30 may be composed of various nonwoven webs such as a meltblown web, a spunbond web, a hydroentangled spunlace web, or a through air bonded carded web. Examples of suitable topsheet layer 30 materials include natural fiber webs (such as cotton), rayon, hydroentangled webs, polyesters, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-bonded fibers (such as bicomponent fibers). Bonded carded webs, polyolefins, copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and aliphatic esters such as polylactic acid, but are not limited thereto. Finely perforated film and net materials can also be used, and thin layers or combinations of these materials can also be used. An example of a suitable topsheet layer 30 may be a bonded carded web made of polypropylene and polyethylene, such as available from Sandler Corp., Germany. U.S. Patent No. 4,801,494 to Datta et al., 4,908,026 to Sukiennik et al. and WO 2009/062998 to Texol teach a variety of different topsheet materials that may be used as the topsheet layer 30, each of which has its entire contents It is incorporated herein by reference. The additional topsheet layer 30 material is U.S. Patent No. 4,397,644 to Matthews et al., 4,629,643 to Curro et al., 5,188,625 to Van Iten et al., 5,382,400 to Pike et al., 5,533,991 to Kirby et al., and Daley et al. 6,410,823, and those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0289917 to Abuto et al., but are not limited thereto, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In various embodiments, the topsheet layer 30 may contain a plurality of perforations formed to allow body exudates to more easily pass into the absorbent core 38. The perforations may be arranged randomly or uniformly throughout the topsheet layer 30. The size, shape, diameter and number of perforations may vary to suit the specific needs of the absorbent article 10.

In various embodiments, the topsheet layer 30 may have a basis weight ranging from about 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 gsm to about 50, 100, 120, 125, or 150 gsm. For example, in an embodiment, topsheet layer 30 may be constructed from a through air bonded carded web having a basis weight in the range of about 15 gsm to about 100 gsm. In another example, the topsheet layer 30 is from about 20 gsm to about 50 gsm, such as a through air bonded carded web readily available from nonwoven material manufacturers such as Xiamen Yanjan Industry, Beijing, DaYuan Nonwoven Fabrics and other manufacturers. It can be constructed from a through air bonded carded web having a basis weight.

In various embodiments, the topsheet layer 30 may be at least partially hydrophilic. In various embodiments, a portion of the topsheet layer 30 may be hydrophilic and a portion of the topsheet layer 30 may be hydrophobic. In various embodiments, the portion of the topsheet layer 30, which may be hydrophobic, may be an essentially hydrophobic material or may be a material treated with a hydrophobic coating layer.

In various embodiments, the topsheet layer 30 is a multi-component topsheet, such as having two or more different nonwoven or film materials, in which different materials are disposed at separate locations in the transverse direction (Y) of the absorbent article 10. It may be a layer 30. For example, the topsheet layer 30 may be a bilayer or a multi-component material having a central portion positioned across the longitudinal center line 18 of the absorbent article 10, wherein the lateral side portions are central Laterally placed and bonded to each side edge of the part. The central portion may be composed of a first material and the side portion may be composed of a material that may be the same or different from the material of the central portion. In such embodiments, the central portion may be at least partially hydrophilic and the side portion may be hydrophobic in nature or may be treated with a hydrophobic coating. Examples of the configuration of the multi-component top sheet layer 30 are generally described in Coe's U.S. Patent No. 5,961,505, Kirby's 5,415,640, and Sugahara's 6,117,523, the entire contents of each of these documents are Included in the specification.

In various embodiments, the central portion of the topsheet layer 30 may be positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline 18 of the absorbent article 10. The longitudinally directed central portion of this center may be a through air bonded carded web (“TABCW”) having a basis weight of about 15 to about 100 gsm. The previously described non-woven, woven and perforated film topsheet layer materials may also be used as the central portion of topsheet layer 30. In various embodiments, the central portion may be constructed from a TABCW material having a basis weight of about 20 to about 50 gsm, such as available from Xiamen Yanjan Industry, Beijing, DaYuan Nonwoven Fabrics, and other manufacturers. Alternatively, perforated films such as those available from film suppliers such as Texol of Italy and Tredegar of the USA may be used. Different non-woven, woven or film sheet materials may be used as the side portions of the topsheet layer 30. The selection of the material for the top sheet layer 30 may vary based on the desired overall properties of the top sheet layer 30. For example, it may be desirable to have a hydrophilic material in the central portion and a hydrophobic barrier type material in the side portions in order to prevent leakage and increase the feeling of drying in the area of the side portions. These side portions may be bonded to the central portion by adhesive, thermal, ultrasonic or other means along or adjacent to the longitudinally oriented side edge of the central portion. Traditional absorbent article construction adhesives can be used to bond the side portions to the central portion. Either of the central and/or side portions may be treated with a surfactant and/or skin benefit agent, as is well known in the art.

These longitudinally oriented side portions may be of a single layer or multilayer configuration. In various embodiments, the side portions may be laminates bonded with an adhesive or otherwise. In various embodiments, the side portions may consist of an upper fibrous nonwoven layer, such as a spunbond material, laminated to a bottom layer of a hydrophobic barrier film material. This spunbond layer may be formed of a polyolefin such as polypropylene, and may include a wetting agent if desired. In various embodiments, the spunbond layer may have a basis weight of about 10 or 12 gsm to about 30 or 70 gsm and may be treated with a hydrophilic wetting agent. In various embodiments, the film layer may have perforations that allow fluid to penetrate into the underlying layer, and may be of a single layer or multilayer structure. In various embodiments, such films may be polyolefins, such as polyethylene having a basis weight of about 10 to about 40 gsm. Construction adhesives can be used to laminate the spunbond layer to the film layer at an add-on level of between about 0.1 gsm and 15 gsm. When a film barrier layer is used in the overall topsheet layer 30 design, it includes an opacifying agent, such as a film pigment, which can act as a masking member by helping the film block stains along the side edges of the absorbent article 10. You may. In this way, the film layer can serve to limit the visualization of fluid excretion specks along the side edges of the absorbent article 10 when viewed above the topsheet layer 30. The film layer may also act as a barrier layer to prevent rewetting of the topsheet layer 30 as well as to prevent fluid from flowing from the side edges of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the side portions are laminated such as a spunbond-meltblown-meltblown-spunbond layer (“SMMS”) laminate, a spunbond-film laminate, or alternatively, other nonwoven laminate combinations. It can be a sieve.

In various embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, the top sheet layer 30 includes protrusions 162 extending outwardly away from at least one intended body-facing surface of the laminate web 160. ) May be a fluid entangled laminate web 160. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be hollow. The laminate web 160 may have two layers, such as a support layer 164 and a protrusion layer 166. The support layer 164 may have a first surface 168 and a second surface 170 on the opposite side, and a thickness 172. The protrusion layer 166 may have an inner surface 174 and an opposite outer surface 176, and a thickness 178. The interface 180 may exist between the support layer 164 and the protrusion layer 166. In various embodiments, the fibers of the protrusion layer 166 may cross the interface 180 to form the laminate web 160 and may be entangled and fastened with the support layer 164. In various embodiments in which the backing layer 164 is a fibrous nonwoven web, the fibers of the backing layer 164 may cross the interface 180 and entangled with the fibers of the protrusion layer 166.

In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be filled with fibers from the protrusion layer 166 and/or the support layer 164. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be hollow. The protrusions 162 may have closed ends 182 that may be free of perforations. However, in various embodiments, it may be desirable to create one or more perforations in each of the protrusions 162. Such perforations may be formed in the closed end 182 and/or sidewall 184 of the protrusion 162. This perforation should be distinguished from the inter-fiber spacing, which is the spacing between one individual fiber and the next individual fiber.

In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 are of an open area that allows light to pass through the protrusions 162 without being disturbed by the material forming the protrusions 162, for example a fibrous material. Can have a percentage. The percentage of open areas present in the protrusions 162 includes all areas of the protrusions 162 that allow light to pass through the protrusions 162 unobstructed. Thus, for example, the percentage of the open area of the protrusions 162 is the protrusions 162 through perforation, inter-fiber spacing, and any other spacing within the protrusions 162 through which light can pass unobstructed. ), can cover all open areas. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be formed without perforation, and the open area may be due to inter-fiber spacing. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 are about 1, 0.9 within a selected area of the laminate web 160 as measured according to the Method to Determine Percent Open Area test method described herein. , 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, or less than 0.1% open area.

In various embodiments, the shape of the protrusions 162, when viewed from above, may be, for example, round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, diamond, or the like. Both the width and height of the protrusions 162 can be varied, as is the case with the spacing and pattern of the protrusions 162. In one embodiment, the protrusions 162 may have a height of more than about 1 mm when measured according to the test method for determining the height of the protrusions described herein. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may have a height greater than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may have a height from about 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mm to about 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 mm.

The protrusions 162 of the laminate web 160 may be located on and extend from the outer surface 176 of the protrusion layer 166. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may extend from the outer surface 176 of the protrusion layer 166 in a direction away from the support layer 164. In various embodiments in which the protrusions 162 may be hollow, the protrusions may be located towards the inner surface 174 of the protrusion layer 166 and used from the protrusion layer 166 to form the protrusions 162 It may have open ends 186 that may be covered by the second surface 170 of the support layer 164 or the inner surface 174 of the protrusion layer 166 depending on the amount of fiber produced. The protrusions 162 may be surrounded by a ground region 188, which may be formed from the outer surface 176 of the protrusion layer 166, but the thickness of the ground region 188 is the protrusion layer 166 and the support layer. (164) can be composed of all. The ground zone 188 may be relatively flat and planar, or may impose surface morphology variability within the ground zone 188. For example, in various embodiments, the ground zone 188 may have a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed within the ground zone by forming a protrusion layer 166 on the formation surface of the three-dimensional shape, which is, for example, For example, in all respects it is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,741,941 to Engelbert et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, in various embodiments, the ground region 188 may be provided with a recess 190 that may extend wholly or partially into the protrusion layer 166 and/or the support layer 164. In addition, the ground zone 188 may be embossed to impart other functional properties to the ground zone 188 on the surface texture. In various embodiments, the ground region 188 and the laminate web 160 as a whole may have perforations 192 that can extend through the laminate web 160, which is into and out of the laminate web 160 It facilitates the movement of body exudate through the laminate web. These perforations 192 should be distinguished from the inter-fiber spacing, which is the spacing from one individual fiber to the next individual fiber.

In various embodiments, the ground zones 188 may allow light to pass through the ground zones 188 without being disturbed by the material forming the ground zones 188, for example a fibrous material. May have a percentage of open area. The percentage of open areas present within the ground areas 188 includes all areas of the ground areas 188 that can pass through the ground areas 188 unobstructed by light. Thus, for example, the percentage of the open area of the ground area 188 is the ground areas through perforations, inter-fiber spacing, and any other spacing within the ground areas 188 through which light can pass unobstructed. (188) can cover all open areas. In various embodiments, ground zones 188 will have greater than about 1% open zones within selected zones of laminate web 160, as measured according to the open zone percentage determination method test method described herein. I can. In various embodiments, the ground zones 188 may be formed without perforation, and the open zone may be due to inter-fiber spacing. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 are about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 within selected regions of the laminate web 160. , 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or more than 20% open area. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 are about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5 within selected regions of the laminate web 160. , 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, or It can have 20% open area. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 may have from about 1, 2 or 3% to about 4 or 5% open area within selected regions of the laminate web 160. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 may have from about 5, 6 or 7% to about 8, 9 or 10% open areas within selected regions of the laminate web 160. In various embodiments, ground zones 188 are open zones of about 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20% from about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15% within selected zones of laminate web 160. Can have In various embodiments, the ground zones may have more than about 20% open zones within selected zones of laminate web 160.

The protrusions 162 of the laminate web 160 may be provided in any orientation deemed suitable. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 of the laminate web 160 may be provided randomly to the laminate web 160. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be oriented linearly in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be oriented linearly in the transverse direction (Y) of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be oriented linearly in a direction that may be inclined with respect to the longitudinal (X) and/or transverse (Y) directions of the absorbent article 10. The ground area 188 of the laminate web 160 may be provided in any orientation deemed suitable. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 may be oriented linearly in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 may be oriented linearly in the transverse direction Y of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the ground regions 188 may be oriented linearly in a direction that may be inclined with respect to the longitudinal (X) and/or transverse (Y) directions of the absorbent article 10.

In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 and/or ground regions 188 are located in the central region 16 of the absorbent article 10 with the protrusions 162 facing the perimeter of the absorbent article 10 Location, and may be provided to be positioned in a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may have varying heights in different regions of the absorbent article 10. In such embodiments, for example, the protrusions 162 may have a first height in one region of the absorbent article 10 and a different height in another region of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may have varying diameters in different regions of the absorbent article 10. In such embodiments, for example, the protrusions 162 may have a first diameter in one region of the absorbent article 10 and a different diameter in another region of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the concentration of protrusions 162 may be varied in absorbent article 10. In such embodiments, one region of the absorbent article 10 may have a concentration of protrusions 162 that is higher than the concentration of the protrusions 162 in the second region of the absorbent article 10.

Although the density and fiber content of the protrusions 162 can be varied, in various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be “hollow”. It can be seen that when the protrusions 162 are hollow, it may have a shell 194 formed from the fibers of the protrusion layer 166. The shell 194 may form an inner space 196 capable of having fibers having a lower density than the shell 194 of the protrusions 162. By “density” is meant the fiber count or content per selected unit of volume within the shell 194 of the protrusions 162 or a portion of the inner space 196. The density of the shell 194 may vary within a particular or individual protrusion 162, and may also vary between different protrusions 162. In addition, the size and density of the hollow inner space 196 may also vary within specific or individual protrusions 162, and may also vary between different protrusions 162. As a result, when at least a portion of the inner space 196 of the protrusion 162 having a lower fiber density than at least a portion of the shell 194 of the same protrusion 162 is present, the protrusion 162 is "hollow" Is considered to be. In this regard, in some situations, there may not be a clear distinction between the shell 194 and the inner space 196 of the protrusion 162, but if the cross section of one of the protrusions 162 is sufficiently enlarged, the protrusion 162 It can be seen that at least some portions of the inner space 196 of) have a lower density than some portions of the shell 194 of the same projection 162, and the projection 162 is considered to be "hollow", When at least a portion of the protrusions 162 of the laminate web 160 is hollow, the protrusion layer 166 and the laminate web 160 are considered to be “hollow” or have “hollow protrusions”. In various embodiments, some of the hollow protrusions 162 may be about 50% or more of the protrusions 162 in selected regions of the laminate web 160. In various embodiments, at least about 70% of the protrusions 162 in selected regions of the laminate web 160 may be hollow. In various embodiments, at least about 90% of the protrusions 162 in selected regions of the laminate web 160 may be hollow.

The laminate web 160 may be the result of movement of the fibers in the protrusion layer 166 in one direction and sometimes in more than one direction. As described above, the laminate web 160 may be a fluid entangled laminate web. Referring to Figure 12, if the shaping surface on which the protrusion layer 166 is placed is solid other than the shaping holes used to form the protrusions 162, then the ground regions 188 of the protrusion layer 166 The force of the fluid entanglement streams that hit and bounce back on the solid surface ground zone corresponding to the support layer where fibers adjacent to the inner surface 174 of the protrusion layer 166 are adjacent to the second surface 170 of the support layer 164 You can make it move within. Movement of these fibers in the first direction may be represented by arrow 198 shown in FIG. 12. In order to form the protrusions 162 extending outward from the outer surface 176 of the protrusion layer 166, the fibers must move in the second direction as shown by arrow 200. It is the movement in this second direction that causes the fibers to move away from the outer surface 176 from the protrusion layer 166 to form the protrusions 162. In various embodiments in which the support layer 164 may be a fibrous nonwoven web, depending on the strength and residence time of the fluid jet and the degree of web integrity during the entanglement process, the fibers of the support layer 164 are as shown by arrow 202 in FIG. It can move into the protrusion layer 166. As a result of this fiber movement, the layers 164, 166 are laminated at the interface 180 of the layers and the overall integrity is good, thus allowing further processing and handling of the laminate web 160. Web 160 can be created. As a result of the fluid entanglement process to create the laminate web 160, the protrusions 162 are formed to forcibly expose the fibers from the support layer 164 to the outer surface 176 of the protrusion layer 166. It is generally not desirable for the fluid pressure used to have sufficient force.

The support layer 164 may support the protrusion layer 166, and may be formed in a plurality of structures if the support layer 164 can support the protrusion layer 166. The main function of the support layer 164 is to protect the protrusion layer 166 during formation of the protrusions 162, to allow bonding or entanglement with the protrusion layer 166, and the protrusion layer 166 and the resulting It may be to assist in further processing of the laminate web 160. A suitable material for the backing layer 164 is a nonwoven fabric or web, a scrim material, a knitted material, a subset of nonwoven fabrics or webs and a foam material, provided that the selected material or materials can withstand a manufacturing process such as a fluid-entanglement process. , Films, and paper/cellulose/wood pulp-based products that can be considered as combinations thereof, but are not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the backing layer 164 may be staple length fibers used, for example, carded webs, airlaid webs, or the like, or more continuous fibers found in, for example, meltblown webs or spunbond webs. It may be a fibrous nonwoven web made of a plurality of randomly deposited fibers. Because of the functions that the support layer 164 must perform, the support layer 164 may have a higher degree of integrity than the protrusion layer 166. In this regard, the support layer 164 may be maintained in a substantially integrity state when subjected to a fluid entanglement process. The integrity of the support layer 164 is such that the material forming the support layer 164 is able to resist inducing downward and filling the protrusions 162 of the protrusion layer 166. As a result, in embodiments in which the support layer 164 is a fibrous nonwoven web, it should have a higher degree of inter-fiber bonding and/or fiber entanglement than the fibers of the protrusion layer 166. It may be desirable to entangle the fibers from the support layer 164 with the fibers of the protrusion layer 166 adjacent to the interface 180 between the two layers, but in general, many of these fibers are within the protrusions 162. It is desirable that the fibers of this support layer 164 do not integrate or entangle with the protrusion layer 166 to the extent that it is reached.

To resist a higher degree of fiber migration as described above, in one embodiment, the backing layer 164 may have a higher degree of integrity than the protrusion layer 166. This high degree of integrity can be achieved in many ways. One way is fibers that can be achieved by thermally or ultrasonic bonding the fibers to each other with or without pressure, such as in vent bonding, point bonding, powder bonding, chemical bonding, adhesive bonding, embossing, calender bonding, etc. It can be a hepatic junction. In addition, other materials such as adhesives and/or bicomponent fibers may be added to the fibrous mixture. In addition, for example, before the support layer 164 is connected to the protrusion layer 166, the web is subjected to hydraulic entanglement, needle punching, etc., so that pre-entanglement of the fibrous non-woven support layer 164 can be used. have. Combinations of the above methods are also possible. Other materials such as foam, scrim, knit, etc. may have sufficient initial integrity so that no further processing is required. The level of integrity can in many cases be observed visually due to the visual observation of techniques such as point bonding commonly used in fibrous nonwoven webs such as, for example, spunbond webs and short fiber containing webs. A further enlarged view of the support layer 164 may indicate the use of fluid entanglement to connect the fibers together or the use of thermal bonding and/or adhesive bonding. Depending on whether samples of the individual layers 164, 166 are available, tensile tests can be performed in either or both machine and cross machine directions to compare the integrity of the support layer 164 against the protrusion layer 166. . See, for example, ASTM test D5035-11, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety in all respects.

The type, basis weight, tensile strength, and other properties of the support layer 164 can be selected and varied depending on the particular end use of the resulting laminate web 160. When the laminate web 160 is to be used as part of a personal hygiene absorbent article, generally the backing layer 164 is fluid permeable, has good wet and dry strength, can absorb fluids such as body exudates, and It is desirable to be able to retain the fluids as much as possible for a period of time, and then release the fluids to one or more subjacent layers. In this respect, fibrous nonwovens such as spunbond webs, meltblown webs, and carded webs such as airlaid webs, bonded carded webs, and coform materials are very suitable as support layer 164 . Foam materials and scrim materials are also suitable. In addition, since the support layer 164 is commonly used to manufacture a spunbond web and a meltblown web, and a layer combination of a spunbond web and a meltblown web, a multilayer material due to the use of multiple layers or the use of multi-bank formation processes Can be In the formation of this support layer 164, both natural and synthetic materials may be used alone or in combination to manufacture the materials. In various embodiments, the support layer 164 may have a basis weight in the range of about 5 to about 40 or 50 gsm.

The type, basis weight, and porosity of the support layer 164 may affect process conditions required to form the protrusions 162 in the protrusion layer 166. The heavier the basis weight of the material, the greater the entanglement force of the entanglement fluid stream required to form the protrusions 162 in the protrusion layer 166. However, as the basis weight of the support layers 164 is heavier, the protrusion layer 166 itself is very elastic and the shape of the protrusions 162 cannot be maintained after the forming process, so that the support for the protrusion layer 166 can be improved. I can. The protrusion layer 164 itself may be excessively stretched in the machine direction due to the mechanical force applied to the protrusion layer and subsequent winding and conversion processes, resulting in shrinkage and distortion of the protrusions. In addition, in the absence of the support layer 164, the protrusions 162 of the protrusion layer 166 tend to collapse due to the winding pressure and compression weight that the protrusion layer 166 experiences in the winding process and subsequent transformation, and the support layer (164) does not return to the extent it suffers if it exists.

The support layer 164 may undergo further treatment and/or addition to change or enhance the properties of the support layer. For example, surfactants and other chemicals may be added internally and externally together to the components that form all or part of the support layer 164 to alter or enhance the properties of the support layer. A hydrogel that absorbs several times its weight as a liquid or a compound commonly referred to as superabsorbent may be added to the support layer 164 in the form of fine particles and fibers.

The protrusion layer 166 may be staple length fibers used, for example a carded web, airlaid web, coform web, etc., or may be more continuous fibers, for example in a meltblown web or a spunbond web. , Can be made of a plurality of randomly deposited fibers, which can be staple length fibers. The fibers of the protrusion layer 166 may have less inter-fiber bonding and/or fiber entanglement, and thus may have less integrity compared to the integrity of the backing layer 164, and in embodiments where the backing layer 164 is a fibrous nonwoven web. Especially so. In one embodiment, the fibers in the protrusion layer 166 may not have an initial inter-fiber bond to allow formation of the protrusions 162. Alternatively, if both the backing layer 164 and the protrusion layer 166 can be a fibrous nonwoven web, the protrusion layer 166 is, for example, the protrusion layer 166 has less interfiber bonding, and the protrusion layer 166 It may have less integrity than the backing layer 164 because there is less pre-entanglement or less adhesive of the fibers forming the ).

In the protrusion layer 166, the fluid entangling process moves the first plurality of fibers from the XY plane of the protrusion layer 166 in the vertical, that is, Z direction, of the plurality of fibers of the protrusion layer 166. It may have a sufficient amount of fiber mobility to be able to form s 162. As mentioned herein, in various embodiments, the protrusions 162 may be hollow. In one embodiment, a second plurality of fibers among the plurality of fibers of the protrusion layer 166 may be entangled with the support layer 164. If more continuous fibrous structures are used, such as a meltblown web or spunbond web, in one embodiment, there may be little or no pre-bonding of the protrusion layer 166 prior to the fluid entangling process. When the fibers produced in the melt blown and spunbond processes (often referred to as continuous fibers to distinguish them from staple length fibers) are longer, they are typically less than about 100 mm and typically 10 to 60 mm to displace the fibers in the Z direction. It requires more force than short staple length fibers with a range of fiber lengths. Conversely, short fiber webs such as carded webs and airlaid webs may have some degree of pre-bonding or entanglement of fibers due to their short length. These short fibers require less fluid force from the fluid entanglement streams to move the fibers in the Z direction to form the protrusions 162. As a result, too much material is forced into the interior space 196 of the protrusions 162 without making perforations in the ground regions 188 or protrusions 162 if not required, or for some end-use applications. There should be a balance between fiber length, degree of pre-fiber bonding, fluid force, web speed and residence time so that the protrusions 162 can be created without making the protrusions 162 too tight.

In various embodiments, the protrusion layer 166 may have a basis weight ranging from about 10 gsm to about 60 gsm. Spunbond webs can typically have a basis weight of about 15 to about 50 gsm when used as protrusion layer 166. The fiber diameter can range from about 5 to about 20 μm. The fibers may be single component fibers formed from a single polymer composition, or may be bicomponent or multicomponent fibers, where one part of the fiber is the remaining components to enable interfiber bonding using heat and/or pressure. May have a lower melting point fusion. Hollow fibers can also be used. The fibers can be formed from any polymer blend commonly used to use spunbond webs. Examples of such polymers include polypropylene ("PP"), polyester ("PET"), polyamide ("PA"), polyethylene ("PE"), and polylactic acid ("PLA"), but It is not limited. Spunbond webs can be subjected to post-form bonding and entanglement techniques if necessary to improve the treatability of the web prior to the protrusion forming process.

Meltblown webs can typically have a basis weight of about 20 to about 50 gsm when used as the overhang layer 166. The fiber diameter can range from about 0.5 to about 5 μm. The fibers may be single component fibers formed from a single polymer composition, or may be bicomponent or multicomponent fibers, where one part of the fiber is the remaining components to enable interfiber bonding using heat and/or pressure. May have a lower melting point fusion. The fibers can be formed from any polymer blend commonly used to use spunbond webs. Examples of such polymers include PP, PET, PA, PE, and PLA, but are not limited thereto.

Carded and airlaid webs can use short fibers, which can typically have a length of about 10 to about 100 mm. The fiber denier range may be from about 0.5 to about 6 denier depending on the particular end use. The basis weight may range from about 20 to about 60 gsm. The short fibers may be made of various polymers such as recycled cellulose such as PP, PET, PA, PE, PLA, cotton, rayon, flax, wool, hemp, and viscose, but are not limited thereto. Mixtures of fibers may be used, for example, mixtures of bicomponent fibers and single component fibers, and mixtures of solid fibers and hollow fibers. If bonding is required, bonding can be achieved in many ways, including air-permeable bonding, calendar bonding, point bonding, chemical bonding, and adhesive bonding such as powder bonding. If necessary, in order to further improve the integrity and processability of the protrusion layer 166 prior to the protrusion forming process, the protrusion layer 166 is subjected to a pre-entanglement process, so that the protrusion layer 166 is formed prior to the formation of the protrusions 162. Can increase fiber entanglement in In this respect, hydroentanglement can be advantageous.

Examples of the laminate web 160 and the process for making the laminate web 160 can be found in US 9,474,660 by Kirby et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Absorbent core:

The absorbent core 38 may be positioned between the topsheet layer 30 and the liquid impermeable layer 36 of the absorbent article 10. The absorbent core 38 may generally be any monolayer structure or combination of layered components capable of exhibiting a certain level of compressibility, conformability, and may be non-irritating to the wearer's skin and absorb liquids and other body exudates and Can hold. In various embodiments, the absorbent core 38 may be formed from a variety of different materials and may include any number of desired layers. For example, the absorbent core 38 may contain cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulp fibers), other natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets, scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent materials, bonds. Materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, pigments, lotions, odor suppressants, and the like, and combinations of one or more layers of absorbent web material (eg, two layers). In one embodiment, the absorbent web material may include a matrix of cellulose fluff, and may also include a superabsorbent material. Cellulosic fluff may comprise a mixture of wood pulp fluff. An example of a wood pulp fluff can be identified under the trademark NB 416 available from Weyerhaeuser Corp., which is a bleached super absorbent wood pulp mainly containing soft wood fibers.

In various embodiments, if desired, absorbent core 38 may include an optional amount of superabsorbent material. Examples of suitable superabsorbent materials are poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylamide), poly(vinyl ether), maleic anhydride copolymer with vinyl ether and α-olefin, poly(vinyl pyrroly). Money), poly(vinylmorpholinone), poly(vinyl alcohol), and salts and copolymers thereof. Other superabsorbent materials include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, methyl cellulose, chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and natural gums such as alginate, xanthan gum, locus bean gum, and the like. It may include unmodified natural polymers and modified natural polymers. Mixtures of natural superabsorbent polymers and fully or partially synthetic superabsorbent materials may also be useful. The superabsorbent material may be present in the absorbent core 38 in any amount as needed.

Regardless of the combination of absorbent materials used in the absorbent core 38, the absorbent material can be formed into a web structure by adopting various conventional methods and techniques. For example, the absorbent web may be formed by techniques such as, but not limited to, dry forming techniques, air forming techniques, wet forming techniques, foam forming techniques, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Cofoam nonwoven materials can also be used. Methods and apparatus for implementing these techniques are known in the art.

The shape of the absorbent core 38 may vary as necessary, and may include any one of a variety of shapes including a triangle, a rectangle, a dog bone, an oval, a trapezoid, a T-shape, an I-shape, and an hourglass shape. However, it is not limited thereto. In various embodiments, absorbent core 38 may have a shape that generally corresponds to the overall shape of absorbent article 10. The dimensions of the absorbent core 38 may be substantially similar to the dimensions of the absorbent article 10, although the dimensions of the absorbent core 38 are similar, but are often smaller than the dimensions of the overall absorbent article 10 so as to be properly contained within. You will recognize that. The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 38 must be compatible with the size of the intended wearer and the liquid load imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article 10. Further, the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 38 can be varied to accommodate wearers ranging from infants to adults.

Absorbent core 38 is about 120, 125, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 225, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310 , 320, 330, 340, or 350 mm to about 355, 360, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 410, 415, 420, 425, 440, 450, 460, 480, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540 , 550, 600, 610, 620, or may have a length in the range of 630mm. The absorbent core 38 is from about 30, 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 mm to about 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140, 150 , May have a width of the central region 16 in the range of 160, 170 or 180 mm. The width range of the absorbent core 38 located within the front region 12 and/or the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10 is about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 , Or 95 mm to about 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125 or 130 mm. As described herein, the absorbent core 38 can have a length and width that can be less than or equal to the length and width of the absorbent article 10.

In one embodiment, the absorbent article 10 may be a diaper having the following ranges of length and width of the absorbent core 38 having an hourglass shape: the length of the absorbent core 38 is about 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 225, 240 or 250 mm to about 260, 280, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 355, 360, 380, 385, or 390 mm; The width of the absorbent core 38 within the central region 16 may range from about 40, 50, 55, or 60 mm to about 65, 70, 75, or 80 mm; The width of the absorbent core 38 in the front region 12 and/or the back region 14 may range from about 80, 85, 90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105, or 110 mm.

In one embodiment, the absorbent article 10 may be a training pant or youth pant having the following ranges of length and width of the absorbent core 38 having an hourglass shape: Length of the absorbent core 38 Can range from about 400, 410, 420, 440 or 450 mm to about 460, 480, 500, 510 or 520 mm; The width of the absorbent core 38 within the central region 16 may range from about 50, 55, or 60 mm to about 65, 70, 75, or 80 mm; The width of the absorbent core 38 in the front region 12 and/or the rear region 14 may range from about 80, 85, 90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, or 130 mm. have.

In one embodiment, the absorbent article 10 may be an adult incontinence garment having the following ranges of lengths and widths of an absorbent core 38 having a rectangular shape: the length of the absorbent core 38 is about 400, 410. Or 415 to about 425 or 450 mm; The width of the absorbent core 38 within the central region 16 may range from about 90, or 95 mm to about 100, 105, or 110 mm. Note that the absorbent core 38 of the adult incontinence garment may or may not extend into the front region 12 or the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10.

In one embodiment, the absorbent article 10 may be a feminine hygiene product having the following range of lengths and widths of the absorbent body 40 having an hourglass shape: the length of the absorbent core 38 is about 150, 160 , 170, or 180 mm to about 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, or 320 mm; The width of the absorbent core 38 within the central region 16 may range from about 30, 40, or 50 mm to about 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 mm.

For example, suitable materials and/or structures for the absorbent core 38 are described in US Pat. No. 4,610,678 to Weisman et al., 6,060,636 to Yahiaoui et al., 6,610,903 to Latimer et al., 7,358,282 to Krueger et al. It may include those described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0174260, but is not limited thereto, and each of these documents is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In various embodiments, the absorbent core 38 may be of a single layer structure and may include, for example, a matrix of cellulose fluff and superabsorbent material. In various embodiments, the absorbent core 38 may have at least two layers of material, such as a body facing layer and a garment facing layer. In various embodiments, the two layers may be identical to each other. In various embodiments, the two layers may be different. In such embodiments, the two layers may provide the absorbent article 10 with different absorbent properties deemed appropriate. In various embodiments, the body facing layer of the absorbent core 38 may be composed of an airlaid material, and the garment facing layer of the absorbent core 38 may be composed of a superabsorbent polymer-containing compression sheet. In this embodiment, the airlaid material may have a basis weight of about 40 to about 200 gsm, and the superabsorbent polymer-containing compressed sheet is surrounded by a tissue carrier, and the cellulose pulp and SAP having a basis weight of about 40 to about 400 gsm. It may be a cellulose fluff-based material that may be a combination of.

Liquid impermeable layer:

The liquid impermeable layer 36 is generally liquid impermeable and is a portion of the absorbent article 10 facing the wearer's clothing. The liquid impermeable layer 36 may allow passage of air or vapors leaving the absorbent article 10 while still blocking the passage of liquid. In general, any liquid impermeable material can be used to form the liquid impermeable layer 36. The liquid impermeable layer 36 may be composed of a single layer or multiple layers, and one or more of these layers themselves comprise similar or different materials. Suitable materials that may be used may be polyolefin films or microporous polymeric films, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, nonwovens and nonwoven laminates and films/nonwoven laminates. The specific structure and composition of the liquid impermeable layer 36 can be selected from a variety of known films and/or fabrics, and the specific material is a desired level of liquid barrier, strength, abrasion resistance, tactile, aesthetics, etc. Is appropriately selected to provide In various embodiments, a polyethylene film may be used that may have a thickness ranging from about 0.2 to 0.5 mils to about 3.0 or 5.0 mils. An example of a liquid impermeable layer 36 may be a polyethylene film, such as available from Pliant Corp. of Schaumburg, Ill., USA. Another example may include a calcium carbonate filled polypropylene film. In another embodiment, the liquid impermeable layer 36 may be a hydrophobic nonwoven material having moisture barrier properties such as a nonwoven laminate, examples of which are spunbond, melt blown, melt blown, spunbond, and four-layer laminated It can be a sieve.

In various embodiments, the liquid impermeable layer 36 may be in a two-layer configuration, including, for example, an outer layer material and an inner layer material that may be bonded together. The outer layer may be of any suitable material, and may be one that provides the wearer with a generally clothing-like texture or appearance. An example of such a material may be a 100% polypropylene bonded-carded web with a diamond bond pattern commercially available from Sandler A.G., Germany, such as 30 gsm Sawabond 4185® or equivalent. An example of another material suitable for use as an outer layer may be a 20 gsm spunbond polypropylene nonwoven web. The inner layer may be vapor permeable (ie, "breathable") or vapor impermeable. The inner layer can be made of a thin plastic film, but other flexible liquid impermeable materials can also be used. The inner layer can prevent liquid body exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article 10 and wetting articles such as bed linen and clothing, as well as wearers and caregivers. An example of a material for the inner layer may be a printed 19 gsm Berry Plastics XP-8695H film or equivalent commercially available from Berry Plastics Corporation of Evansville, Indiana.

Thus, the liquid impermeable layer 36 may have a single or multi-layer configuration, such as a configuration of multiple film layers or laminates of films and non-woven fibrous layers. Suitable liquid impermeable layers 36 include U.S. Patent 4,578,069 to Whitehead et al., U.S. Patent 4,376,799 to Tusim et al., U.S. Patent 5,695,849 to Shawver et al. It may be composed of the materials described in Patent No. 6,376,095, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Exudate management layer:

In various embodiments, absorbent article 10 may have exudate management layer 40 in fluid communication with topsheet layer 30. For example, in various embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, and 6B, the exudate management layer 40 is a body facing surface 32 of the top sheet layer 30 ) Can be located on. For example, in various embodiments as shown in FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B, the exudate management layer 40 is located between the topsheet layer 30 and the absorbent core 38. can do.

In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 may be made of a material capable of transmitting body exudate delivered to the top sheet layer 30 in the depth direction (Z). Any of a variety of materials can be used as the exudate management layer 40. In various embodiments, the material may be a synthetic material, a cellulosic material, or a combination of a synthetic material and a cellulosic material. In various embodiments, exudate management layer 40 may be made of a woven or nonwoven material. For example, the exudate management layer 40 may be composed of an airlaid or TABCW material. For example, an airlaid cellulose tissue may be suitable for use in the exudate management layer 40. Airlaid cellulose tissue may have a basis weight ranging from about 10 or 100 gsm to about 250 or 300 gsm. Airlaid cellulose tissues can be formed from hardwood and/or softwood fibers. Airlaid cellulose tissue may have a fine pore structure and provide excellent wicking capacity.

In various embodiments, a foam material may be used to form the exudate management layer 40. In various embodiments, the foam material may be an open cell or porous foam. The physical properties of the foam material and its wettability and fluid management properties can be customized to meet the specific characteristics required for the use of the foam material in the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the foam material loses structure and fluid management properties when exposed to body exudates, which may be moisture-stable and may not degrade or collapse. In various embodiments, the foam material may be an open cell foam, a closed cell foam, or a partially open cell foam that is a thermoplastic or thermoset material. Foam materials can be prepared by extrusion or casting and coating processes including foamed foam, foamed foam and emulsion foam methods. Such foams can be made from different polymeric chemistries to achieve the desired softness, flexibility and resilience of the foam material when used in absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the foam material may be based on organic or inorganic chemicals and may also be based on foam materials obtained from natural sources. In various embodiments, the foam material can be a polymeric chemical, which can be a polyurethane foam, a polyolefin foam, a poly(styrene-butadiene) foam, a poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam, or a silicone based foam. Other polymeric chemicals known to those skilled in the art can be used with additives such as plasticizers, opacifiers, colorants, antioxidants and stabilizers to achieve the desired foam properties. In various embodiments, the viscoelastic properties can be modified to obtain a desired response from the foam material to an applied load, including properties similar to those commonly referred to as polyurethane memory foam materials. In various embodiments, the Poisson's ratio of the foam material may be modified to obtain a desired response to the applied stress from the foam material and, if desired, a foam material with growth promoting properties may be considered.

In various embodiments where a foam material is used for the exudate management layer, the foam material is a foam material using a machine die, for example a foam material referred to as a clickable foam in the polyurethane foam industry. May have material properties that enable the cleavage of. In various embodiments, the foam material may be selected to enable other foam material cutting methods including, but not limited to, laser die cutting and water jet cutting. In various embodiments, the foam material may be tailored to be able to puncture the foam material using a mechanical die and a cutting or hole punching device, and the puncturing may be achieved using an ultrasonic process.

The porous foam material can have pores that can vary in size and/or distribution. In various embodiments, the pore size of the foam material may be from about 10 μm to about 350 μm. In various embodiments, the foam material may have a multimodal pore size distribution to handle various components in body exudate. In various embodiments, a multimodal pore size distribution can be achieved within the same monolithic foam structure, or a narrow pore size distribution allowing a multimodal pore size distribution to be achieved for a combination of layers when combined into a single foam material. This can be achieved by using layers of foam material with

In various embodiments, the foam material may be a polyester polyurethane foam material. In various embodiments, the average cell size of the foam material may be from about 100, 150, or 200 μm to about 250, 300, or 350 μm. The number of open cells in the foam material can be given to the foam material as a measure of the porosity of the foam material. The porosity of a foam material is measured as pores per linear inch (ppi) and represents the number of pores within one linear inch of the surface of a two-dimensional planar foam material and is described by the Polyurethane Foam Association. The linear pores per inch are measured by visually counting pores under a microscope using a grating. The smaller the ppi value of the foam material, the larger the pore size, and vice versa. In various embodiments, the foam material may have a porosity of about 20 or 40 ppi to about 55, 65, or 90 ppi. In various embodiments in which an open cell foam material is used, the foam material may be substantially open-cell or fully reticulated. The reticulation of foam materials can be achieved by a number of methods known to those skilled in the art, including foams made by in-situ reticulation processes during foam formation. In addition, the reticulated foam material can be made by treating the substantially open-cell foam material with a high pressure fluid stream to remove the cell walls of the foam material. In general, the foam material can be stretchable, but in various embodiments the foam material can have a reduced stretch capacity. In various embodiments, the foam material has a low elongation, such as elongation at break of less than 200%. In various embodiments, the foam material has an elongation at break of about 80 or 100% to about 150 or 200%. In various embodiments, the basis weight of the foam material may be from about 45 gsm to about 50 or 55 gsm. In various embodiments, the density of the foam material may be from about 0.01, 0.02 or 0.03 g/cc to about 0.05 or 0.08 g/cc. The foam material may also have a compressive modulus that allows it to be soft and pliable when used in absorbent articles. In various embodiments, the foam material may have a compressive force deflection at 25% deflection of from about 0.5 or 0.6 psi to about 0.8 or 1.0 psi.

The foam material can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic, depending on the desired properties of the foam material within the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the foam material may be a hydrophilic foam material. In various embodiments, the foam material may be hydrophobic and may be treated with a surfactant to create a hydrophilic foam material. In various embodiments, for example, the material used to form the exudate management layer 40 is a hydrophobic, open cell, polyurethane foam treated with about 0.3% or 0.8% to about 1.6, 2.0 or 3.0% surfactant. I can. In various embodiments, the surfactant used to treat the foam material is an alkylphenol ethoxylate such as LUTENSOL® A65N commercially available from BASF, or SURFYNOL® commercially available from Air Products, Allentown, Pa. It may be a nonionic surfactant such as a nonionic surfactant comprising at least an ethoxylated linear oleochemical alcohol, such as an ethoxylated acetylenic diol such as 465. In various embodiments, as a result of the surfactant treatment, the hydrophilicity of the foam material may be uniform in the longitudinal direction (X) and transverse direction (Y) of the foam material. In various embodiments, as a result of surfactant treatment, the hydrophilicity of the foam material may vary in the longitudinal direction (X), in the transverse direction (Y), or in both the longitudinal direction (X) and transverse direction (Y). have. In various embodiments, the polymer used to formulate the foam material can be selected to have the desired hydrophilic properties. In various embodiments, this may be achieved by using an essentially hydrophilic polymer that is wettable by an aqueous fluid or by including additives to the polymer during formation of the foam material. These additives can enable the foam material to have wettability in aqueous fluids, even if the base polymer of the foam material is hydrophobic. A non-limiting example of such a method may be to include polyethylene glycol as an additive with a hydrophobic polymer.

In various embodiments, the foam material may be hydrophobic and may have hydrophilic fibers to be inserted into the foam material to create a hydrophilic foam and fiber composite. Hydrophilic fibers in the foam material can provide a hydrophilic pathway through the foam material, leading to body exudate through the foam material. 13, 14, and 15, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a foam and fiber composite 100 suitable for use as an exudate management layer 40 (taken by a scanning electron microscope at 100X magnification). Fig. 14 is a micrograph (taken by a scanning electron microscope at 40X magnification) of a top view of the foam and fiber composite material 100 of Fig. 13 so that the fibrous material can be seen by the observer, 2 is a micrograph (taken by a scanning electron microscope at 40X magnification) of a top view of the foam and fiber composite 100 of FIG. 13 so that the plane and portions of the fibers are visible to the observer.

As can be seen in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the foam and fiber composite 100 may be formed of an open cell foam material 110 and a fibrous material 120. The foam material 110 may have a first plane 112 and a second plane 114. In Fig. 13, each plane 112 and 114 is depicted by a corresponding dashed line for visual clarity. The layer of fibrous material 120 contacts one of the planes, such as plane 112, of foam material 110. The layer of fibrous material 120 is formed from a plurality of individual fibers 122. As can be seen in the foam and fiber composite 100 shown in FIG. 13, a portion of the individual fibers 122 is a first plane of the foam material 110 through the foam material 110 It extends from 112 to a second plane 114 of foam material 110. The foam and fiber composite 100 may have a total basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 250 gsm. The amount of fibrous material 120, including individual fibers 122 within the foam material, is at least about 10% of the total basis weight of the foam and fibrous composite 100. In various embodiments, at least about 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 gsm of fibrous material 120 is in contact with a plane, such as plane 112, of foam material 110. do. In various embodiments, fibrous material 120 may be formed from a plurality of individual fibers 122. In various embodiments, the individual fibers 122 of the fibrous material 120 are, for example, such as may occur with wet-laying or air-laying of the fibrous material 120. It can be loose. In various embodiments, individual fibers 122 of fibrous material 120 may be in the form of a nonwoven web of material, such as, for example, a carded nonwoven web. Therefore, the fibrous material 120 may be manufactured through various processes such as, but not limited to, air-laying, wet-laying, and carding. In various embodiments, the fibers 122 forming the fibrous material 120 may be hydrophilic. The fibers 122 may be naturally hydrophilic or may be fibers that are naturally hydrophobic but treated to be hydrophilic, for example through treatment with a surfactant. Providing hydrophilic fibers 122 may allow for a foam and fiber composite 100 that may have a hydrophilic pathway through foam material 110. In various embodiments where the foam material 110 is hydrophobic, the hydrophilic pathway provided by the hydrophilic fibers 122 allows the foam and fiber composite 100 of the absorbent article 10 to absorb body exudates (via the hydrophilic fiber pathway). And, as the body exudate cannot easily pass through the hydrophobic foam material 110, it may allow to retain the body exudate at a location away from the topsheet layer 30 of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the fibers 122 forming fibrous material 120 are cellulosic fibers such as, but not limited to, cotton, ramie, abrasion, hemp, flax, bagasse, northern softwood kraft pulp ( northern softwood kraft pulp), as well as synthetic cellulose fibers such as, but not limited to, rayon, viscose, and cellulose acetate. In various embodiments, the fibers 122 forming fibrous material 120 may be synthetic fibers made from polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, aromatic polyester, aliphatic polyester, and polyamide. In such an embodiment, fibers 122 may be treated with additives to impart surface energy to varying degrees, ranging from very low surface energy and low wettability to high surface energy and high wettability.

The exudate management layer 40 is formed from a base sheet of material, such as any of the aforementioned materials, and is formed from the absorbent core 38 and the body into the second component 60 connected to the first component 50. It is configured to have a first component 50 at least partially defining an opening 42 for direct passage of exudate. The first component 50 may provide a first height dimension 76 to the exudate management layer 40 and the second component 60 may provide a first height dimension 76 to the exudate management layer 40. A second height dimension 78 may be provided that may be larger.

The first component 50 of the exudate management layer 40 extends between a first transverse distal edge 52, a second transverse distal edge 54, and transverse distal edges 52, 54, and It may have a pair of opposing longitudinal side edges 56 connecting them. The first component 50 may generally have any shape and/or size desired. In various embodiments, for example, the first component 50 may have a rectangular shape, a curved rectangular shape, a dalgal shape, an oval shape, a circular shape, an hourglass shape, a square shape, or a curved square shape. have. In various embodiments, each of the edges 52, 54, 56 of the first component 50 may be linear. In various embodiments, at least one of the edges 52, 54, or 56 of the first component 50 may be arcuate, and the remaining edges may be straight. In various embodiments, at least two of the edges 52, 54, or 56 of the first component 50 may be arcuate, and the remaining edges may be straight. In various embodiments, for example, longitudinal side edges 56 of first component 50 may be straight, and transverse distal edges 52 and 54 may be arcuate. In various embodiments, the transverse distal edges 52 and 54 may have an arcuate shape capable of forming a configuration complementary to each other when the two edges 52 and 54 are joined together. In various embodiments, at least three of the edges 52, 54, or 56 of the first component 50 may be arcuate, and the remaining edges may be straight. In various embodiments, all edges 52, 54 and 56 of the first component 50 may be arcuate.

In various embodiments, the first component 50 has a longitudinal length measured from the first transverse distal edge 52 to the second transverse distal edge 54 which may be less than the overall length of the absorbent article 10. Can have For example, the first component 50 may have a longitudinal length of about 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 mm to about 100, 150, 175, 200, 250 or 300 mm. In various embodiments, the first component 50 is from about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% of the longitudinal length of the absorbent article 10 to about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, It may have a longitudinal length of 80, 85, or 90%. In various embodiments, the first component 50 has a transverse width measured from the first longitudinal side edge 56 to the second longitudinal side edge 56 which may be less than or equal to the overall width of the absorbent article 10. Can have For example, the first component 50 may have a transverse width of about 10, 15, 20 or 30 mm to about 60, 80, 100, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140 or 150 mm. In various embodiments, the first component 50 is from about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% of the transverse width of the absorbent article 10 to about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, It may have a transverse width of 80, 85, or 90%. The first component 50 has a body facing surface 72 and a garment facing surface 74. The first component 50 may provide a first height dimension 76 to the exudate management layer 40 in the depth direction Z of the exudate management layer 40. In various embodiments, the first height dimension 76 can be from about 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2 or 3.5 mm to about 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6 or 10 mm.

In order to improve the ability of the absorbent article 10 to deliver body exudates in the depth direction (Z), as well as to improve the ability of the exudate management layer 40 to conform to the wearer's body based on its bending ability, the exudate management layer The first component 50 of 40 is an opening, which may be of any suitable shape, for example, but not limited to, oval, circular, rectangular, square, oval, hourglass, triangular, etc. You can have 42. In various embodiments, the shape of the opening 42 may include the shape of a physical object, such as a leaf, an animal, a star, a heart, a teardrop, a moon, or an external shape of an abstract configuration. In various embodiments, the opening 42 of the first component 50 may be elongate and oriented in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10. The opening 42 may be bounded at least in part by a perimeter 44 that may form an inner boundary or inner edge of the first component 50, at least in part, of the exudate management layer 40. The first component 50 may be bounded by the primary folded portion 70 connecting the second component 60 to the second component 60. The opening 42 passes through the first component 50 from the body facing surface 72 of the first component to the garment facing surface 74 of the first component 50. The opening 42 may form a cup or well-like structure to hold the body exudate and prevent the body exudate from leaking away from the area of the absorbent article 10 and towards the edges of the absorbent article 10.

The opening 42 may be located at various locations along the longitudinal and transverse directions of the absorbent article 10 depending on the primary location of body exudate absorption within the absorbent article 10. This versatility of positioning allows the opening 42 to be positioned below the main point of body exudate discharge so that the opening can act as a primary body exudate receiving area for the absorbent article 10. For example, in various embodiments, absorbent article 10 may have a longitudinal centerline 18 and a transverse centerline 80. The longitudinal center line 18 is disposed at a position equidistant from the longitudinal side edge 24 and runs along the length of the absorbent article 10 in the longitudinal direction X, while the transverse center line 80 is the first transverse direction. It should be understood that it is disposed at a location equidistant from the distal edge 20 and the second transverse distal edge 22 and runs along the width of the absorbent article 10 in transverse direction (Y). For example, in various embodiments, the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may be positioned to symmetrically align with the longitudinal center line 18 and the transverse center line 80 of the absorbent article 10. . This allows the opening 42 to be centrally located within the absorbent article 10. However, centralized positioning of the opening 42 within the absorbent article 10 is not required, and in various embodiments, exudate management, depending on the primary location within the absorbent article 10 where body exudate absorption may occur. The opening 42 of the layer 40 may be symmetric about only the longitudinal center line 18 or may not be symmetric about either the longitudinal center line 18 or the transverse center line 80. In various embodiments, the opening 42 is moved longitudinally (X) towards the posterior region 14 transverse distal edge 22 to provide an improved ability to receive and isolate body exudates such as fecal material. ) May be desirable. By providing the absorbent article 10 with a structure capable of receiving and isolating fecal material, the likelihood of the fecal material coming into contact with the wearer's genitals can be reduced, as well as the occurrence of stool material leakage from the absorbent article 10. Can be reduced. In various embodiments, the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may be symmetric about the longitudinal center line 18 and asymmetric about the transverse center line 80. In various embodiments, the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may be asymmetric with respect to each of the longitudinal center line 18 and the transverse center line 80. In various embodiments, the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may be located between the transverse centerline 80 of the absorbent article 10 and the transverse distal edge 22 of the back region 14. In these embodiments, the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may be symmetrical or asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal centerline 18.

The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may have a longitudinal length of about 15, 20, 30 or 50 mm to about 60, 75, 100 or 150 mm, and about 10, 15, 20 or 30 mm to about 40, It may have a width of 60, 80, 100, 110, 120 or 130mm in the transverse direction. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is a longitudinal direction that is about 15, 20 or 25% to about 70, 75 or 80% of the total longitudinal length of the first component 50 in the longitudinal direction X. Can have a length. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is transverse, which may be from about 20, 25 or 30% to about 70, 75 or 80% of the total width of the first component 50 in the transverse direction (Y). Can have a width. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 may have a size deemed suitable for containment and containment of fecal material within the absorbent article 10.

In addition to the first component 50, the exudate management layer 40 has a second component 60 in a configuration that at least partially overlaps the first component 50. The second component 60 is formed from the same base sheet of the material forming the first component 50 of the exudate management layer 40, and is formed from the material forming the exudate management layer 40, and the primary folds 70 ) Is connected to the first component 50 through. The second component 60 of the exudate management layer 40 extends from the primary fold 70 in the longitudinal direction (X) of the absorbent article 10 in a direction toward the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10 do. The second component 60 can help shape the absorbent article 10, create a body-tight fit, and absorb fluid from the wearer's hip region. In various embodiments, the second component 60 may extend beyond the second transverse distal edge 54 of the first component 50. In various embodiments, the second component 60 may not extend beyond the second transverse distal edge 54 of the first component 50.

The second component 60 is between the first transverse distal edge 62, the second transverse distal edge 64 and transverse distal edges 62 and 64 in the same space as the primary fold 70. It may have a pair of opposite longitudinal side edges 66 extending from and connecting them. The second component 60 can generally have any shape and/or size desired. The second component 60 is created by cutting, punching, or otherwise separating the material forming the second component 60 from the material forming the first component 50. Cutting, punching or otherwise separating the second component 60 from the first component 50 in this way defines a perimeter 44 that at least partially defines the opening 42 in the first component 50. Will generate. The second component 60 is positioned in a configuration that at least partially overlaps the first component 50 by including the primary fold 70 in the material forming the exudate management layer 40. The second component 60 is not completely separated from the first component 50 and remains attached to the first component 50 through the primary fold 70. In various embodiments, as the formation of the second component 60 results in the formation of the opening 42, the second component 60 matches and complements the shape and size of the opening 42. It can have any shape and size that can be considered. Thus, in these embodiments, the second component 60 is entirely within the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 when not in a configuration that at least partially overlaps with the first component 50. It can be fitted, and the edges 64 and 66 of the second component 60 can be adjacent to the periphery 44 of the first component 50. In various embodiments, the second component 60 may have a smaller dimension than the opening 42, such as when the second component 60 is further reduced in size. In these embodiments, the second component 60 may fit completely within the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40, but the edges of the second component 60 are It may not be adjacent to the periphery 44. In various embodiments, a portion of the second component 60 may be removed from the second component 60 as part of cutting or punching to form the second component 60, such that the second component ( 60) does not perfectly match the shape and size of the opening 42 or is not in an exact complementary state.

The second component 60 may have a longitudinal length of from about 15, 20, 30 or 50 mm to about 60, 75, 100 or 150 mm, and from about 10, 15, 20 or 30 mm to about 40, 60, 80, It may have a width of 100, 110, 120 or 130 mm. In various embodiments, the second component 60 is from about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% to about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, of the longitudinal length of the first component 50, It can have a longitudinal length of 75, 80, 85, or 90%. In various embodiments, the second component 60 is from about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% of the transverse width of the first component 50 to about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, It may have a transverse width of 75, 80, 85, or 90%. In various embodiments, the second transverse distal edge 64 of the second component 60 may be between about 15 mm and about 75 mm from the second transverse distal edge 22 of the absorbent article 10. The second component 60 may provide a height dimension 78 to the exudate management layer 40, the second height dimension 78 being about 0.5, 0.75, 1, in the depth direction Z, 1.5, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10 mm to about 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14 , 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5 or 20mm.

The first component 50 and the second component 60 may be at least partially overlapping each other. In various embodiments, the second component 60 includes a portion of the first component 50 so that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the body facing surface 72 of the first component 50. Can be overlaid on top. In various embodiments, a portion of the second component 60 in contact with a portion of the body-facing surface 72 of the first component 50 may be subjected to, for example, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, or the like. Can be joined together by 3, 4A, 4B, 8A, and 8B show a second component 60 such that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the body-facing surface 72 of the first component 50. Provides exemplary diagrams of embodiments superimposed on and over a portion of the first component 50. In various embodiments, the second component 60 includes a portion of the first component 50 such that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the garment facing surface 74 of the first component 50. Can be nested below. In various embodiments, a portion of the second component 60 in contact with a portion of the garment-facing surface 74 of the first component 50 may be subjected to, for example, adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, or the like. Can be joined together by 5, 6A, 6B, 9A, and 9B show a second component 60 such that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the garment facing surface 74 of the first component 50. Provides an exemplary diagram of an embodiment in which a portion of the first component 50 is overlaid below.

3, 4A and 4B provide exemplary views of an absorbent article 10 having an exudate management layer 40 in fluid communication with the topsheet layer 30 of the absorbent article 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the exudate management layer 40 is located on the body facing surface 32 of the top sheet layer 30. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is positioned so that the opening 42 is symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center line 18 but not symmetric with respect to the transverse center line 80. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B is located between the transverse center line 80 and the transverse end edge 22 of the rear region 14. The width of the first component 50 in the transverse direction is uniform in the longitudinal direction of the first component 50. The exudate management layer 40 is configured such that the second component 60 is at least partially overlapped with the first component 50, so that a portion of the second component 60 is a part of the first component 50 ) Is in contact with a portion of the body facing surface 72. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is generally circular.

5, 6A and 6B provide exemplary views of an absorbent article 10 having an exudate management layer 40 in fluid communication with the topsheet layer 30 of the absorbent article 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B, the exudate management layer 40 is located on the body-facing surface 32 of the top sheet layer 30. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is positioned so that the opening 42 is symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center line 18 but not symmetric with respect to the transverse center line 80. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 shown in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B is located between the transverse center line 80 and the transverse distal edge 22 of the rear region 14. The width of the first component 50 in the transverse direction is uniform in the longitudinal direction of the first component 50. The exudate management layer 40 is configured such that the second component 60 is at least partially overlapped with the first component 50 below, so that a part of the second component 60 is a first component ( It comes into contact with a portion of the garment facing surface 74 of 50). The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is generally circular.

7 provides an exemplary illustration of an absorbent article 10 having an exudate management layer 40 in fluid communication with a topsheet layer 30 of the absorbent article 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the exudate management layer is located between the absorbent core 38 and the topsheet layer 30 of the absorbent article 10. The exudate management layer 40 may be in contact with the garment facing surface 34 of the top sheet layer 30. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is positioned so that the opening 42 is symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center line 18 but not symmetric with respect to the transverse center line 80. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is located between the transverse center line 80 and the transverse distal edge 22 of the posterior region 14. The width of the first component 50 in the transverse direction is uniform in the longitudinal direction of the first component 50. 8A and 8B are illustrative illustrations of one embodiment of an exudate management layer 40 that may be present in the absorbent article 10 of FIG. 7. 8A and 8B, the exudate management layer is configured such that the second component 60 is at least partially overlapped with the first component 50 so that the second component 60 A portion comes into contact with a portion of the body facing surface 72 of the first component 50. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is generally circular. 9A and 9B are exemplary illustrations of one embodiment of an exudate management layer 40 that may be present in the absorbent article 10 of FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the exudate management layer is configured such that the second component 60 is at least partially overlapped with the first component 50 under the second component 60. A portion of the first component 50 comes into contact with a portion of the garment facing surface 74. The opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40 is generally circular.

In various embodiments, the second component 60 may have a secondary fold 68. The secondary fold 68 may be a fold in the second component 60 and contact the first part 82 of the second component 60 with the second part 84 of the second component 60 You can do it. 16A-16D provide exemplary views of a cross-sectional view taken along the length of an exemplary exudate management layer 40 in which the second component 60 has a secondary fold 68. The exudate management layer 40 shown in FIGS. 16A to 16D has a first component 50 connected to the second component 60 through a primary folding part 70, and the first component 50 and The second component 60 is in a configuration partially overlaid. Referring to FIG. 16A, the second component 60 is at least with the first component 50 so that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the body-facing surface 72 of the first component 50. It is in a composition that partially overlaps above. The second component 60 further has a secondary fold 68 that allows the first portion 82 of the second component 60 to contact the second portion 84 of the second component 60 . The first portion 82 may be in a configuration overlapping the second portion 84 of the second component 60 below. Referring to FIG. 16B, the second component 60 is at least with the first component 50 so that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the body-facing surface 72 of the first component 50. It is in a composition that partially overlaps above. The second component 60 further has a secondary fold 68 that allows the first portion 82 of the second component 60 to contact the second portion 84 of the second component 60 . The first portion 82 may be in a configuration overlapping the second portion 84 of the second component 60. Referring to FIG. 16C, the second component 60 is at least with the first component 50 so that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the clothing facing surface 74 of the first component 50. It is in a composition that partially overlaps below. The second component 60 further has a secondary fold 68 that allows the first portion 82 of the second component 60 to contact the second portion 84 of the second component 60 . The first portion 82 may be in a configuration overlapping the second portion 84 of the second component 60. Referring to FIG. 16D, the second component 60 is at least with the first component 50 so that the second component 60 contacts a portion of the clothing facing surface 74 of the first component 50. It is in a composition that partially overlaps below. The second component 60 further has a secondary fold 68 that allows the first portion 82 of the second component 60 to contact the second portion 84 of the second component. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 16A-16D illustrate a single secondary fold 68 of the second component 60, but the second component 68 will have more than one secondary fold 68. You should understand that you can. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 16A to 16D illustrate the secondary fold 68 of the second component 60 as being positioned beyond the second transverse distal edge 54 of the first component 50. , The secondary fold 68 may occur at a position close to and close to the second transverse distal edge 54 of the first component 50, or with the first portion 82 of the second component 60 It is to be understood that the resulting overlying configuration of the second portion 84 may occur in an overlying configuration with the first component 50 of the exudate management layer 40.

Referring to FIG. 17, in various embodiments, the second component 60 of the exudate management layer 40 is of any suitable shape, e. , A triangle, etc., but may have at least one opening 88, which is not limited thereto. In various embodiments, the shape of the opening 88 may include the shape of a physical object such as, for example, a leaf, an animal, a star, a heart, a teardrop, a moon, or an external shape of an abstract configuration. In various embodiments, opening 88 may be elongate and oriented in the longitudinal direction X of absorbent article 10. The opening 88 may be bounded by a perimeter 90 that may form an inner boundary or inner edge of the second component 60. The opening 88 of the second component 60 may pass through the second component 60 from the body-facing surface of the second component 60 to the garment-facing surface of the second component 60. When the body exudate enters the location of the opening 88 of the second component, the opening 88 holds the body exudate and the body exudate is away from the area of the absorbent article 10 and at the edge of the absorbent article 10. A cup or well-shaped structure can be formed to prevent leakage toward them. The opening 88 can be located in various positions of the second component 60. In various embodiments, the second component 60 may have more than one opening 88, and the plurality of openings 88 may be arranged in the second component 60 in any manner deemed suitable. I can. In various embodiments, the opening 88 cuts, punches, or otherwise separates the first portion of the material forming the second component 60 from the second portion of the material forming the second component 60. It can be formed by doing. The second portion of the material forming the second component 60 remains as the second component 60 of the exudate management layer 40 and is attached to the first component 50 through the primary fold 70. It is the part of the substance that is connected. In various embodiments, the first portion of the material that is cut, punched, or otherwise separated from the second portion of the material forming the second component 60 may be discarded. In various embodiments, the first portion of the material that is cut, punched or otherwise separated from the second portion of the material forming the second component 60 may be bonded to the absorbent core 38 and is absorbent. The protrusion(s) 86 extending upwardly in the depth direction Z from the body-facing surface of the core 38 may be formed. The material forming the protrusion(s) 86 is cut, punched out, or a first portion of the material forming the second component 60 from the second portion of the material forming the second component 60 Otherwise, it may be bonded to the absorbent core 38 before or after separation.

Referring to FIG. 18, in various embodiments, the absorbent core 38 may be of any suitable shape, such as, for example, oval, circular, rectangular, square, oval, hourglass, triangular, etc. It may have at least one opening 94. In various embodiments, the shape of the opening 94 may include the shape of a physical object such as, for example, a leaf, an animal, a star, a heart, a teardrop, a moon, or an external shape of an abstract configuration. In various embodiments, opening 94 may be elongate and oriented in the longitudinal direction X of absorbent article 10. The opening 94 may be bounded by a perimeter 96 that may form an inner boundary or inner edge of the absorbent core 38. An opening 94 in the absorbent core 38 may pass through the absorbent core 38 from the body facing surface of the absorbent core 38 to the garment facing surface of the absorbent core 38. When the body exudate enters the location of the opening 94 of the absorbent core 38, the opening 94 holds the body exudate and the body exudate is away from the area of the absorbent article 10 and away from the area of the absorbent article 10. A cup or well-shaped structure can be formed to prevent leakage toward the edges. The opening 94 may be located at various locations in the absorbent core 38 and within the region of the absorbent core 38 visible through the opening 42 of the exudate management layer 40. In various embodiments, the absorbent core 38 may have more than one opening 94 and the plurality of openings 94 may be arranged within the absorbent core 38 in any manner deemed suitable. The opening 94 in the absorbent core 38 may be formed by cutting, punching, or otherwise separating the first portion of the material forming the absorbent core 38 from the second portion of the material forming the absorbent core 38. I can. The second portion of the material forming the absorbent core 38 is the portion of the material remaining as the absorbent core 38 of the absorbent article 10. In various embodiments, the first portion of the material that is cut, punched or otherwise separated from the second portion of the material forming the absorbent core 38 may be discarded. In various embodiments, the first portion of the material that is cut, punched or otherwise separated from the second portion of the material forming the absorbent core 38 is bonded to the second component 60 of the exudate management layer 40. May be formed, and the protrusion(s) 92 extending upward in the depth direction Z from the body-facing surface of the second component 60 may be formed. The material forming the protrusion(s) 92 is the second component 60 before or after cutting, punching, or otherwise separating the second component 60 from the first component 50 of the exudate management layer 40. It can be bonded to the component 60.

As described herein, the exudate management layer 40 is connected to the first component 50 via a first component 50 and a primary fold 70 at least partially defining the opening 42. It has a second component 60. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 may have a third component connected to the first component 50 through a primary fold of the third component. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 may have a third component and a fourth component, and each of the third and fourth components is a first component through their own component primary fold. Connected to 50. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 may have a third component, a fourth component, and a fifth component connected to the first component 50 through their own component primary folds. Referring to FIG. 19, FIG. 19 shows a first component 50, a second component 60 connected to the first component 50 through a primary folding part 70, and a third component primary folding part ( Defined by the third component 130 connected to the first component 50 through 132, and the first component 50, the primary folding part 70 and the third component primary folding part 132 An exemplary diagram of an exudate management layer 40 having a closed opening 42 is provided. The second component 60 may extend from the primary fold 70 in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10 in a direction toward the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10, and the third configuration Element 130 can extend from third component primary fold 132 in longitudinal direction X of absorbent article 10 in a direction toward front region 12 of absorbent article 10. FIG. 20 is a first component 50, a second component 60 connected to the first component 50 through a primary folding part 70, and a first component through a primary folding part 144 of the third component. The third component 142 connected to the component, the fourth component 146 connected to the first component 50 through the fourth component primary fold 148, and the first component 50, Provides an exemplary view of the exudate management layer 40 having an opening 42 defined by a primary fold 70, a third component primary fold 144 and a fourth component primary fold 148 do. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the second component 60 has a primary fold 70 in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10 in a direction toward the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10. And the third component 142 can extend from the third component primary fold 144 in the transverse direction Y of the absorbent article 10, and the fourth component 146 It may extend from the fourth component primary fold 148 in the transverse direction Y of the absorbent article 10. 21 shows a first component 50, a second component 60 connected to the first component 50 through a primary folding part 70, and a first component through the primary folding part 132 of the third component. The third component 130 connected to the component 50, the fourth component 134 connected to the first component 50 through the fourth component primary folding part 136, the fifth component primary folding The fifth component 138 connected to the first component 50 through the unit 140, and the first component 50, the primary folding part 70, the third component primary folding part 132, An exemplary view of an exudate management layer 40 having an opening 42 defined by a fourth component primary fold 136 and a fifth component primary fold 140 is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the second component 60 has a primary fold 70 in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10 in a direction toward the rear region 14 of the absorbent article 10. And the third component 130 is a third component primary fold 132 in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent article 10 in a direction toward the front region 12 of the absorbent article 10. ), and the fourth component 134 can extend from the fourth component primary fold 136 in the transverse direction Y of the absorbent article 10, and the fifth component 138 May extend from the fifth component primary fold 140 in the transverse direction Y of the absorbent article 10.

In various embodiments, for example as shown in FIG. 22, exudate management layer 40 may have at least two openings 42 for trapping and retention of fecal material. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 may have at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 openings 42. Each of the openings 42 may have any shape deemed suitable, for example as described herein. Each of the openings 42 may be bounded at least in part by a perimeter 44 and at least in part by a primary fold 70 of their respective second component 60. The plurality of openings 42 may be disposed within the exudate management layer 40 in any manner deemed suitable. In various embodiments, at least one of the plurality of openings 42 may be symmetrical about the longitudinal center line 18. In various embodiments, none of the openings 42 are symmetric about the longitudinal centerline 18. In various embodiments, one of the plurality of openings 42 may be positioned such that a portion of the opening 42 traverses above the transverse center line 80. In various embodiments, each of the openings 42 is located between the transverse centerline 80 and the second transverse distal edge 22 of the absorbent article 10.

Leakproof flaps:

In various embodiments, the absorbent article may have leakproof flaps. 2, 3, 5 and 7 provide views of exemplary embodiments of an absorbent article 10 having leakproof flaps 210 and 212. In various embodiments, the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212 are spaced apart from each other generally parallel to each other in the lateral direction of the longitudinal side edges 24, the topsheet layer 30 of the absorbent article 10. To provide a barrier to the flow of body exudates in the transverse direction Y of the absorbent article 10. In one embodiment, the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212 extend longitudinally from the front region 12 of the absorbent article 10 through the central region 16 of the absorbent article 10 to the rear region 14 Can be.

The leak-proof flaps 210 and 212 may be made of a fibrous material that may be similar to the material forming the top sheet layer 30. Conventional materials such as polymeric films can also be used. Each leakproof flap 210 and 212 may have a movable distal end 214 that may include a flap elastic body 216. Suitable elastic materials for flap elastomer 216 may include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomer materials. In various embodiments, the flap elastomers 216 are two strands of elastomeric material extending longitudinally along the distal ends 214 of the leakproof flaps 210 and 212 in a relationship generally spaced apart from each other. Can have The elastic strands may be within the leakproof flaps 210 and 212 while being in an elastically retractable condition such that the contraction of these strands gathers and shortens the distal end 214 of the leakproof flaps 210 and 212. have. As a result, the elastic strands can bias the distal end 214 of each of the leakproof flaps 210 and 212 toward a location spaced from the proximal end of the leakproof flaps 210 and 212, such that the absorbent article 10 ) When fitted to the wearer, the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212 are in a generally upright orientation of the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212, particularly in the central region 16 of the absorbent article 10. ) Can be extended away from. The distal end 214 of the leak-proof flaps 210 and 212 flaps by partially duplexing the self-supporting leak-proof flaps 210 and 212 material in an amount sufficient to surround the flap elastic bodies 216. It may be connected to the elastic bodies 216. However, it will be appreciated that the leakproof flaps 210 and 212 may have any number of strands of elastomeric material and may be omitted from the absorbent article 10 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in various embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, and 6B, the absorbent article 10 comprises a body facing surface 32 of the topsheet layer 30. It may have an exudate management layer 40 located thereon. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 includes the longitudinal side edges 56 of the first component 50 of the exudate management layer 40 and the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212 of the absorbent article 10. ) Can be sized and positioned below In various embodiments, portions of the first component 50 such as at least portions of the longitudinal side edges 56 may be bonded to the leakproof flaps 210 and 212. In these embodiments, when the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212 extend away from the topsheet layer 30 in a generally upright orientation of the anti-leak flaps 210 and 212, the exudate management layer 40 is It can be raised away from the topsheet layer 30 and can provide a body-tight fit of the absorbent article 10 to the wearer's body. In various embodiments, the transverse distal edges 52, 54 of the first component 50 are exudate during use of the absorbent article 10 when the leakproof flaps 210 and 212 are in a generally upright orientation. When the management layer 40 is raised away from the topsheet layer 30, it can be bonded to the topsheet layer 30 to create pockets for body exudates.

Acquisition floor:

In various embodiments, absorbent article 10 may have an acquisition layer. The acquisition layer may help to slow down and diffuse the ejection or surge of the body's liquid exudate penetrating the topsheet layer 30. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer 40 may be located on the body facing surface 32 of the topsheet layer 30, and the acquisition layer is located between the topsheet layer 30 and the absorbent core 38. can do. In various embodiments, the acquisition layer may be located on the body-facing surface 32 of the topsheet layer 30 and the exudate management layer 40 may be located on the body-facing surface of the acquisition layer. In various embodiments, the absorbent article 10 has an exudate management layer located between the topsheet layer 30 and the absorbent core 38 while having an acquisition layer located between the exudate management layer 40 and the absorbent core 38. 40).

The acquisition layer can have any lengthwise length dimension where appropriate. In various embodiments, the lengthwise length of the acquisition layer may be equal to the lengthwise length of the absorbent core 38. In various embodiments, the lengthwise length of the acquisition layer may be shorter than the lengthwise length of the absorbent core 38. In these embodiments, the acquisition layer may be located at any desired location along the longitudinal length of the absorbent core 38.

In one embodiment, the acquisition layer is a natural fiber, synthetic fiber, superabsorbent material, woven material, non-woven material, wet-laid fibrous web, substantially unbonded airlaid fibrous web, motion Possible bonded stabilized-airlaid fibrous webs and the like, as well as combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the acquisition layer may be formed of a material that is substantially hydrophobic, such as a nonwoven web composed of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and the like, and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the acquisition layer may comprise staples or other lengths of conjugated bicomponent and homopolymer fibers and mixtures of these fibers with other types of fibers. In various embodiments, the acquisition layer may have fibers that may have a denier greater than about 5. In various embodiments, the acquisition layer may have fibers that may have a denier of less than about 5.

In various embodiments, the acquisition layer may be a bonded carded web or an airlaid web. In various embodiments, the bonded carded web may be a powder bonded carded web, an infrared bonded carded web, or a through air bonded carded web, for example.

In various embodiments, the basis weight of the acquisition layer may be at least about 10 or 20 gsm. In various embodiments, the basis weight of the acquisition layer may be from about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 gsm to about 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 110, 120, or 130 gsm. In various embodiments, the basis weight of the acquisition layer may be less than about 130, 120, 110, 100, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, or 50 gsm.

Side panels:

23 provides a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a perspective view of an absorbent article 10 such as underpants, such as, for example, training pants, children's pants, diapers or adult incontinence pants. In an embodiment where the absorbent article 10 may be a training pant, a children's pant, a diaper pant, or an adult incontinence pant, the absorbent article 10 comprises front side panels 260 and 262, and rear side panels 264. And 266). 23 provides a non-limiting view of an absorbent article 10 that can have side panels such as front side panels 260 and 262 and rear side panels 264 and 266. The front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 of the absorbent article 10 can be bonded to the absorbent article 10 in respective front and rear waist regions 12 and 14, and , May extend outwardly beyond the longitudinal side edges 24 of the absorbent article 10. In one example, the front side panels 260 and 262 may be bonded to the liquid impermeable layer 36, such as bonded by adhesive, by pressure bonding, by thermal bonding, or by ultrasonic bonding. The rear side panels 264 and 266 can be secured to the liquid impermeable layer 36 in substantially the same manner as the front side panels 260 and 262. Alternatively, the front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 are integrally with the liquid impermeable layer 36, topsheet layer 30 or other layers of the absorbent article 10. As formed, it may be formed integrally with the absorbent article 10.

For improved fit and appearance, the front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 are suitably the overall length of the absorbent article 10 measured parallel to the longitudinal center line 18. It may have an average length measured parallel to the longitudinal centerline 18 of the absorbent article 10 that is at least about 20%, more suitably at least about 25% of the. For example, absorbent articles 10 with an overall length of about 54 cm, front side panels 260 and 262 and rear side panels 264 and 266 suitably have an average length of about 10 cm or more, and more Suitably it has an average length of about 15 cm. Each of the front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 may be comprised of one or more individual distinct pieces of material. For example, each of the front panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 has at least one of portions comprising an elastomeric material, a first and a second coupled at a joint (not shown). It may include a side panel portion (not shown). Alternatively, each individual front side panel 260 and 262 and rear side panel 264 and 266 may be constructed from a single piece of material that folds over itself along an intermediate fold line (not shown).

The front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 are positioned toward the longitudinal center of the absorbent article 10, an outer edge 270 laterally spaced from the fastening joint 272, respectively. A leg distal edge 274 and a waist distal edge 276 disposed toward the longitudinal end of the absorbent article 10. Leg distal edge 274 and waist distal edge 276 may extend from longitudinal side edges 24 of absorbent article 10 to outer edges 270. The leg end edges 274 of the front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 can form part of the longitudinal side edges 24 of the absorbent article 10. The leg distal edges 274 of the illustrated absorbent article 10 may be curved and/or sloped relative to the transverse center line 80 to provide a better fit around the wearer's legs. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, only one of the leg distal edges 274, such as the leg distal edge 274 of the posterior region 14, may be curved or beveled, or the leg distal edges 274 Understand that everyone cannot bend or slope. The waist distal edges 276 may be parallel to the transverse center line 80. The waist distal edges 276 of the front side panels 260 and 262 may form part of the first transverse distal edge 20 of the absorbent article 10, and the rear side panels 264 and 266 The waist end edges 276 of may form part of the second transverse end edge 22 of the absorbent article 10.

The front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 may include an elastic material that can expand and contract laterally. The described process for incorporating elastic front side panels 260 and 262 and rear side panels 264 and 266 into the absorbent article 10, as well as suitable elastic materials, published July 10, 1990 U.S. Patent No. 4,940,464 to Van Gompel et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,224,405 to Pohjola issued on July 6, 1993, U.S. Patent No. 5,104,116 to Pohjola issued on April 14, 1992, and 1991 It is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,046,272 to Vogt et al, issued September 10, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. As an example, suitable elastic materials are stretch-thermal laminate (STL), neck-bonded laminate (NBL), reversibly necked laminate, or stretch-bonded laminate. (SBL) material. Methods of manufacturing these materials are well known to those skilled in the art, and U.S. Patent No. 4,663,220 to Wisneski et al. issued on May 5, 1987, and U.S. Patent No. Patent No. 5,226,992, and European patent application EP 0 217 032 published on April 8, 1987 in the name of Taylor et al., and PCT application WO 01/88245 in the name of Welch et al., all of which It is incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable materials are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 12/649,508 to Welch et al., and U.S. Patent Publication No. 12/023,447 to Lake et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the front side panels 260 and 262 and the rear side panels 264 and 266 may comprise other woven or nonwoven materials as described above as suitable for the liquid impermeable layer 36.

To determine the percentage of open area:

The percentage of open area can be determined by using the image analysis measurement method described herein. In this context, open areas are considered areas within a material through which light transmitted from a light source passes directly through those areas that are unblocked by the material of interest. In general, image analysis methods determine the number of percent open area for a material through specific image analysis measurement parameters such as area. The open area percent method is performed by separately detecting the open area areas in both the ground areas and the protrusions using conventional optical image analysis techniques, and then calculating their percentage respectively. Incident light is used with image processing steps to separate the ground areas and protrusions for subsequent detection and measurement. The image analysis system controlled by the algorithm performs detection, image processing and measurement, and also digitally transmits the data to a spreadsheet database. The calculated measurement data is used to determine the percentage of open area of materials with ground areas and protrusions.

A method for determining the percentage of open area in both the ground areas and protrusions of a given material includes acquiring two separate digital images of the material. An exemplary setup for acquiring an image is representatively shown in FIG. 24. Specifically, a CCD video camera 300 (e.g., a Leica DFC 310 FX operated in gray scale mode and available from Leica Microsystems of Heerbrugg, Switzerland) was used at the Polaroid Resource Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Mount on a standard support 302, such as a Polaroid MP-4 Land Camera standard support or equivalent available from. A standard support 302 is attached to a macro-viewer 304, such as a KREONITE macro-viewer, available from Dunning Photo Equipment, Inc. with offices in Bixby, Oklahoma. The auto stage 308 is placed on the top surface 306 of the macro-viewer 304. The auto stage 308 is used to automatically move the position of a given material for viewing with the camera 300. A suitable auto stage is Model H112, available from Prior Scientific Inc. with offices in Rockland, Massachusetts, USA.

The material with ground regions and protrusions is placed on an auto stage 308 under the optical axis of a 60mm Nikon AF Micro Nikkor lens 310 with an f-stop setting of 4. The Nikon lens 310 is attached to the Leica DFC 310 FX camera 300 using a c-mount adapter. The distance D1 from the front surface 312 of the Nikon lens 310 to the material is 21 cm. The material is placed flat on the auto stage 308 and gently stretched and/or fastened to the surface of the auto stage 308 using a transparent adhesive tape at its outer edge to remove all wrinkles. The material is orientated so that the machine direction (MD) travels in the horizontal direction of the resulting image. Incident fluorescent illumination provided by a 16 inch diameter, 40W, GE Circline fluorescent lamp 314 is irradiated onto the material surface. A lamp 314 is included in a fixture centered above the material and below the video camera and positioned at a distance D2 of 3 inches above the material surface. The illuminance of the lamp 314 is controlled by a Variable Auto-transformer, type 3PN1010, available from Staco Energy Products Co., which has an office in Dayton, Ohio. Transmitted light is also provided to the material from below the auto stage 308 with five 20 watt fluorescent lights 316 covered with a diffuser plate 318. The diffuser plate 318 is inserted and a top surface 306 that is a part of the macro viewer 304 is formed. The diffuser plate 318 is overlaid with a black mask 320 having a 3in X 3in hole 322. The hole 322 is centered below the optical axis of the Leica camera and lens system. The distance D3 from the hole 322 to the surface of the auto stage 308 is approximately 17 cm. The illuminance of the fluorescent lights 316 is also controlled by an individual Variable Auto-transformer.

The image analysis software platform used to perform the open area percent measurement is QWIN Pro (Version 3.5.1) available from Leica Microsystems with offices in Heerburg, Switzerland. The system and images are also corrected using QWIN software, and a standard ruler whose survey mark is as small as at least 1 mm. The correction is performed in the horizontal dimension of the video camera image. The units of mm per pixel are used for the correction.

A method for determining the percent open area of a given material includes performing several area measurements from both incident and transmitted light images. Specifically, image analysis algorithms are used to obtain and process images, as well as to perform measurements using the Quantimet User Interactive Programming System (QUIPS) language. The image analysis algorithm is reproduced as follows.

NAME =% Open Area-Land vs Projection Regions-1

PURPOSE = Measures% open area on'land' and'projection' regions via'sandwich' lighting technique

DEFINE VARIABLES & OPEN FILES

Open File (C:\Data\39291\% Open Area\data.xls, channel #1)

MFLDIMAGE = 2

TOTCOUNT = 0

TOTFIELDS = 0

SAMPLE ID AND SET UP

Configure (Image Store 1392 x 1040, Gray Images 81, Binaries 24)

Enter Results Header

File Results Header (channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

Image Setup DC Twain [PAUSE] (Camera 1, AutoExposure Off, Gain 0.00,

ExposureTime 34.23 msec, Brightness 0, Lamp 38.83)

Measure frame (x 31, y 61, Width 1330, Height 978)

Image frame (x 0, y 0, Width 1392, Height 1040)

- Calvalue = 0.0231 mm/px

CALVALUE = 0.0231

Calibrate (CALVALUE CALUNITS$ per pixel)

Clear Accepts

For (SAMPLE = 1 to 1, step 1)

Clear Accepts

File ("Field No.", channel #1, field width: 9, left justified)

File ("Land Area", channel #1, field width: 9, left justified)

File ("Land Open Area", channel #1, field width: 13, left justified)

File ("%Open Land Area", channel #1, field width: 15, left justified)

File ("Proj. Area", channel #1, field width: 9, left justified)

File ("Proj. Open Area", channel #1, field width: 13, left justified)

File ("% Open Proj. Area", channel #1, field width: 15, left justified)

File ("Total% Open Area", channel #1, field width: 14, left justified)

File Line (channel #1)

Stage (Define Origin)

Stage (Scan Pattern, 5 x 1 fields, size 82500.000000 x 82500.000000)

IMAGE ACQUISITION I-Projection isolation

For (FIELD = 1 to 5, step 1)

Display (Image0 (on), frames (on,on), planes (off,off,off,off,off,off), lut 0, x 0, y 0, z 1, Reduction off)

PauseText ("Ensure incident lighting is correct (WL = 0.88-0.94) and acquire image.")

Image Setup DC Twain [PAUSE] (Camera 1, AutoExposure Off, Gain 0.00,

ExposureTime 34.23 msec, Brightness 0, Lamp 38.83)

Acquire (into Image 0)

DETECT-Projections only

PauseText ("Ensure that threshold is set at least to the right of the left gray-level

histogram peak which corresponds to the'land' region.")

Detect [PAUSE] (whiter than 127, from Image0 into Binary0 delineated)

BINARY IMAGE PROCESSING

Binary Amend (Close from Binary0 to Binary1, cycles 10, operator Disc, edge erode on)

Binary Identify (FillHoles from Binary1 to Binary1)

Binary Amend (Open from Binary1 to Binary2, cycles 20, operator Disc, edge erode on)

Binary Amend (Close from Binary2 to Binary3, cycles 8, operator Disc, edge erode on)

PauseText ("Toggle <control> and <b> keys to check bump detection and correct if necessary.")

Binary Edit [PAUSE] (Draw from Binary3 to Binary3, nib Fill, width 2)

Binary Logical (copy Binary3, inverted to Binary4)

IMAGE ACQUISITION 2-% Open Area

Display (Image0 (on), frames (on,on), planes (off,off,off,off,off,off), lut 0, x 0, y 0, z 1, Reduction off)

PauseText ("Turn off incident light & ensure transmitted lighting is correct (WL = 0.97) and acquire image.")

Image Setup DC Twain [PAUSE] (Camera 1, AutoExposure Off, Gain 0.00,

ExposureTime 34.23 msec, Brightness 0, Lamp 38.83)

Acquire (into Image 0)

DETECT-Open areas only

Detect (whiter than 210, from Image0 into Binary10 delineated)

BINARY IMAGE PROCESSING

Binary Logical (C = A AND B: C Binary11, A Binary3, B Binary10)

Binary Logical (C = A AND B: C Binary12, A Binary4, B Binary10)

MEASURE AREAS-Land, projections, open area within each

- Land Area

MFLDIMAGE = 4

Measure field (plane MFLDIMAGE, into FLDRESULTS(1), statistics into

FLDSTATS(7,1)) Selected parameters: Area

LANDAREA = FLDRESULTS(1)

- Projection Area

MFLDIMAGE = 3

Measure field (plane MFLDIMAGE, into FLDRESULTS(1), statistics into

FLDSTATS(7,1)) Selected parameters: Area

BUMPAREA = FLDRESULTS(1)

- Open Projection area

MFLDIMAGE = 11

Measure field (plane MFLDIMAGE, into FLDRESULTS(1), statistics into

FLDSTATS(7,1)) Selected parameters: Area

APBUMPAREA = FLDRESULTS(1)

- Open land area

MFLDIMAGE = 12

Measure field (plane MFLDIMAGE, into FLDRESULTS(1), statistics into

FLDSTATS(7,1)) Selected parameters: Area

APLANDAREA = FLDRESULTS(1)

- Total% open area

MFLDIMAGE = 10

Measure field (plane MFLDIMAGE, into FLDRESULTS(1), statistics into

FLDSTATS(7,1)) Selected parameters: Area%

TOTPERCAPAREA = FLDRESULTS(1)

CALCULATE AND OUTPUT AREAS

PERCAPLANDAREA = APLANDAREA/LANDAREA*100

PERCAPBUMPAREA = APBUMPAREA/BUMPAREA*100

File (FIELD, channel #1, 0 digits after'.')

File (LANDAREA, channel #1, 2 digits after'.')

File (APLANDAREA, channel #1, 2 digits after'.')

File (PERCAPLANDAREA, channel #1, 1 digit after'.')

File (BUMPAREA, channel #1, 2 digits after'.')

File (APBUMPAREA, channel #1, 4 digits after'.')

File (PERCAPBUMPAREA, channel #1, 5 digits after'.')

File (TOTPERCAPAREA, channel #1, 2 digits after'.')

File Line (channel #1)

Stage (Step, Wait until stopped + 1100 msecs)

Next (FIELD)

PauseText ("If no more samples, enter '0.'")

Input (FINISH)

If (FINISH=0)

Goto OUTPUT

Endif

PauseText ("Place the next replicate specimen on the auto-stage, turn on incident light

and turn-off and/or block sub-stage lighting.")

Image Setup DC Twain [PAUSE] (Camera 1, AutoExposure Off, Gain 0.00,

ExposureTime 34.23 msec, Brightness 0, Lamp 38.83)

File Line (channel #1)

Next (SAMPLE)

OUTPUT:

Close File (channel #1)

END

The QUIPS algorithm is implemented using the QWIN Pro software platform. Initially, the analyst is prompted to enter the substance set information sent to the Excel file.

Next, the analyst guides by a live image setup window on the computer monitor screen to place the material on the auto stage 308. A uniform, weak force applied to its edge must be applied to the material to remove any possible fine wrinkles. In addition, the images must be arranged so that the machine direction runs horizontally in the image. At the same time, the circleline fluorescent lamp 314 can be turned on to help place the material. Next, the analyst is induced to adjust the incident circle line fluorescent lamp 314 via a variable autotransformer to a white level reading of about 0.9. The sub-stage transmitted light bank 316 should be simultaneously turned off or masked using a single sheet of light-blocking black cardboard disposed on the top of the hole 322 of 3 inches by 3 inches.

The analyst is now guided to confirm that the detection threshold is set to an appropriate level for detection of protrusions using the detection window displayed on the computer monitor screen. Typically, the threshold is set using a white mode that is approximately halfway through the 8-bit grayscale range (eg 127). If necessary, the threshold level can be adjusted upwards or downwards so that the obtained detection binary optimally includes the protrusions shown in the image obtained for the surrounding ground zones and their boundaries.

After the algorithm automatically performs several binary image processing steps on the detected binary number of the protrusions, the analyst will be given an opportunity to review protrusion detection again and correct any errors. Analysts can simultaneously toggle both the'control' and'b' keys to re-examine the protrusion detection for the underlying acquired grayscale image. If necessary, the analyst can choose from a set of binary editing tools (eg, draw, reject, etc.) to make any fine tuning. If care is taken to ensure proper illumination and detection in the steps described above, little correction should be made at this point.

Next, the analyst induces to turn off the incident circle line fluorescent lamp 314, turn on the sub-stage transmitted light bank, or remove the light blocking mask. The sub-stage transmitted light bank is adjusted by a variable autotransformer to a white brightness reading of about 0.97. At this point, the image focus can be optimized for the ground area of the material.

After performing additional calculations on the obtained separate binary images for the protrusions, ground areas and open areas, the algorithm will then automatically perform measurements and output the data into the designated Excel spreadsheet file. The following measurement parameter data will be placed in the Excel file after measurement and data transfer has taken place:

Ground area

Ground open area

Ground open area%

Protrusion area

Protrusion open area

Protrusion open area%

% Of total open area

After transfer of data, the algorithm will instruct the auto stage 308 to move to the next field of view, turning on the incident circle line fluorescent lamp 314 and restarting the process of blocking the transmitted sub-stage light bank 316. will be. This process will be repeated 4 times so that there are 5 sets of data from 5 distinct field-of-view images per single material copy.

Multiple samples replicated from a single material can be performed during a single run of the QUIPS algorithm (Note: the REPLICATE For-Next line in the algorithm needs to be adjusted to reflect the number of sample replicate analyzes to be performed per specimen). The average diffusion value of the final material is generally based on an N=5 analysis from copies of five distinct material subsamples. Comparisons between different substances can be performed using Student's T analysis at a confidence level of 90%.

Method of determining the height of the projection

The height of the protrusions can be determined using the image analysis measurement method disclosed herein. The image analysis method determines the numerical height value of the dimensions of the protrusions using specific image analysis measurements of both the ground regions of the sample and the protrusions having the underlying ground region, and then only the protrusion height by the difference between the two. Calculate. The protrusion height method is a conventional optical image analysis technique to measure the average linear height value for each when observed using a camera with incident illumination after detecting fragment regions of both ground regions and protrusion structures. It is done by using them. The measured data obtained above are used to compare the protrusion height characteristics of different types of materials.

Prior to performing image analysis measurements, the sample of interest must be prepared in a manner that allows visualization of a representative cross section through the center of the protrusion. Sectioning can be performed by fixing a representative piece of sample on at least one of its cross-machine running straight edges on a flat smooth surface with a strip of tape such as a ¾ inch SCOTCH® Magic™ tape produced by 3M. The cross-sectional survey is then carried out using a new single-edge carbon steel blue blade (PAL) that has not been used previously, in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixed edge, in which at least one protrusion, preferably the protrusion, runs in the machine direction This is done by carefully cutting through the center of more protrusions when arranged in rows. Residual rows of any protrusions located behind the cross-sectional surface of the protrusions must be cut or removed prior to mounting so that only the cross-sectional protrusions of interest are present. Such blades for cross-sectioning are available from Electron Microscopy Sciences (Cat. #71974) of Hatfield, Pa. Sectioning is performed in the machine direction of the sample, and a new blade that has not been used previously must be used for each new section incision. The single-sided surface can now be mounted so that the protrusions are directed upwards from the plate using an adhesive such as double-sided tape to be observed using a video camera equipped with an optical lens. The pedestal itself, and any background on the back of the sample to be observed by the camera, should be darkened using an anti-reflective black tape and a black construction board 346 (shown in Fig. 25), respectively. In a typical sample, sufficient cross sections are cut and individually mounted, from which a total of six height values are determined.

An exemplary configuration for obtaining images is representatively illustrated in FIG. 25. Specifically, a CCD video camera 330 (for example, a Leica DFC 310 FX video camera operating in grayscale mode is available from Leica Microsystems, Heerburg, Switzerland) from the Polaroid Resource Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is mounted on a standard support 332 such as a Polaroid MP-4 land camera standard support or equivalent. A standard support 332 is attached to a macro-viewer 334, such as the KREONITE macro-viewer, available from Dunning Photo Equipment, Inc. with offices in Bixby, Oklahoma. The auto stage 336 is disposed on the upper surface of the macro-viewer 334. The auto stage 336 is used to move the position of a predetermined sample for observation by the camera 330. A suitable auto stage 336 is Model H112, available from Prior Scientific Inc. with offices in Rockland, Mass..

The darkened sample pedestal 338 with the exposed sample cross-sectional surface with ground areas and protrusions is placed on the auto stage 336 under the optical axis of a 50mm Nikon lens 340 with an f-stop setting of 2.8. Has been. The Nikon lens 340 is attached to the Leica DFC 310 FX camera 330 using a 30mm extension tube 342 and a c-mount adapter. The sample pedestal 338 is oriented so that the sample cross section runs in the horizontal direction of the obtained image with protrusions facing the same plane with respect to the camera 330 and pointing upward from the plate. The cross-sectional surface is illuminated with an incident incandescent lamp 344 provided by two 150 watt GE Reflector Flood lamps. The two flood lamps are arranged to provide more illumination for the cross-sectional surface than for the sample pedestal 338 below it in the image. When viewed from directly above the top of the camera 330 and the underlying cross-sectional sample pedestal 338, the flood lamps 344 will be placed about 30 degrees and 150 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane running through the camera 330. In this respect, the camera support will be in a 90 degree position. The illumination of the lamps is controlled using a variable autotransformer (type: 3PN1010) available from Staco Energy Products Co. with offices in Dayton, Ohio.

The image analysis software platform used to perform the measurements is QWIN Pro (version 3.5.1) available from Leica Microsystems with offices in Heerburg, Switzerland. The system and images are also corrected using QWIN software, and a standard ruler whose survey mark is as small as at least 1 mm. The correction is performed in the horizontal dimension of the video camera image. The units of mm per pixel are used for the correction.

Thus, a method for determining the height of the protrusion of a given sample involves performing some dimensional measurements. Specifically, image analysis algorithms are used to obtain and process images, as well as to perform measurements using the Quantimet User Interactive Programming System (QUIPS) language. The image analysis algorithm is reproduced as follows.

NAME = Height-Projection vs Land Regions-1

PURPOSE = Measures height of projection and land regions

DEFINE VARIABLES & OPEN FILES

- The following line is set to designate where measurement data will be stored.

Open File (C:\Data\39291\Height\data.xls, channel #1)

FIELDS = 6

SAMPLE ID AND SET UP

Enter Results Header

File Results Header (channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

Measure frame (x 31, y 61, Width 1330, Height 978)

Image frame (x 0, y 0, Width 1392, Height 1040)

- Calvalue = 0.0083 mm/pixel

CALVALUE = 0.0083

Calibrate (CALVALUE CALUNITS$ per pixel)

For (REPLICATE = 1 to FIELDS, step 1)

Clear Feature Histogram #1

Clear Feature Histogram #2

Clear Accepts

IMAGE ACQUISITION AND DETECTION

PauseText ("Position sample, focus image and set white level to 0.95.")

Image Setup DC Twain [PAUSE] (Camera 1, AutoExposure Off, Gain 0.00,

ExposureTime 200.00 msec, Brightness 0, Lamp 49.99)

Acquire (into Image 0)

ACQOUTPUT = 0

- The following line can be optionally set-up for saving image files to a specific location.

ACQFILE$ = "C:\Images\39291-for Height\Text.

2H_"+STR$(REPLICATE)+"s.jpg"

Write image (from ACQOUTPUT into file ACQFILE$)

Detect (whiter than 104, from Image0 into Binary0 delineated)

IMAGE PROCESSING

Binary Amend (Close from Binary0 to Binary1, cycles 4, operator Disc, edge erode on)

Binary Amend (Open from Binary1 to Binary2, cycles 4, operator Disc, edge erode on)

Binary Identify (FillHoles from Binary2 to Binary3)

Binary Amend (Close from Binary3 to Binary4, cycles 15, operator Disc, edge erode on)

Binary Amend (Open from Binary4 to Binary5, cycles 20, operator Disc, edge erode on)

PauseText ("Fill in projection & land regions that should be included, and reject over detected regions.")

Binary Edit [PAUSE] (Draw from Binary5 to Binary6, nib Fill, width 2)

PauseText ("Select'Land' region for measurement.")

Binary Edit [PAUSE] (Accept from Binary6 to Binary7, nib Fill, width 2)

PauseText ("Select'Projection' region for measurement.")

Binary Edit [PAUSE] (Accept from Binary6 to Binary8, nib Fill, width 2)

- Combine land and projection regions with measurement grid.

Graphics (Grid, 30 x 0 Lines, Grid Size 1334 x 964, Origin 21 x 21, Thickness 2,

Orientation 0.000000, to Binary15 Cleared)

Binary Logical (C = A AND B: C Binary10, A Binary7, B Binary15)

Binary Logical (C = A AND B: C Binary11, A Binary8, B Binary15)

MEASURE HEIGHTS

- Land region only

Measure feature (plane Binary10, 8 ferets, minimum area: 8, gray image: Image0)

Selected parameters: X FCP, Y FCP, Feret90

Feature Histogram #1 (Y Param Number, X Param Feret90, from 0.0100 to 5.,

logarithmic, 20 bins)

Display Feature Histogram Results (#1, horizontal, differential, bins + graph (Y axis

linear), statistics) Data Window (1278, 412, 323, 371)

- Projection regions only (includes any underlying land material)

Measure feature (plane Binary11, 8 ferets, minimum area: 8, gray image: Image0)

Selected parameters: X FCP, Y FCP, Feret90

Feature Histogram #2 (Y Param Number, X Param Feret90, from 0.0100 to 10.,

logarithmic, 20 bins)

Display Feature Histogram Results (#2, horizontal, differential, bins + graph (Y axis

linear), statistics) Data Window (1305, 801, 297, 371)

OUTPUT DATA

File ("Land Height (mm)", channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

File Feature Histogram Results (#1, differential, statistics, bin details, channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

File ("Projection + Land Height (mm)", channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

File Feature Histogram Results (#2, differential, statistics, bin details, channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

File Line (channel #1)

Next (REPLICATE)

Close File (channel #1)

END

The QUIPS algorithm is implemented using the QWIN Pro software platform. Initially, the analyst is prompted to enter sample identification information that is sent to the designated Excel file, where the measurement data will also be sent subsequently.

Next, the analyst is an auto-stage including protrusions with a cross-sectional surface facing upward, and a darkened background so that it is flush with the camera 330 with a horizontally continuous width in the live image displayed on the video monitor screen. 336 is induced to place the mounting sample cross section. Next, the analyst adjusts the video camera 330 and the lens 340 to a vertical position to optimize the focus of the cross-sectional surface. Illuminance is also adjusted by the analyst to a white brightness reading of about 0.95 via a variable autotransformer.

Once the analyst has completed the above steps and continues to execute the command, the image will be automatically acquired, detected, and processed by the QUIPS algorithm. The analyst uses a computer mouse to reject anything for the detected area beyond the boundaries of the cross-sectional structure shown in the underlying grayscale image, as well as any shown in the cross-sectional image that was included by previous detection and image processing steps. It will be induced to fill in the detected binary image of the protrusions and/or ground regions. To aid in this editing process, the analyst uses'control' and'B' on the keyboard to turn on or off the overlying binary image to evaluate how closely the binary number matches the boundary of the sample shown in the cross section. You can toggle keys at the same time. If the initial sectioning sample preparation is well performed, manual editing should be slightly but rarely required.

Now the analyst is prompted to "select the'ground' area for measurement" using a computer mouse. This selection is done by carefully drawing a straight line downwards through one side of a single ground section located between or adjacent to the protrusions, then moving the cursor under the ground section across it while still holding the left mouse button down. It is carried out by moving it and then drawing another straight line upwards. Once this happens, release the left mouse button and the ground area to be measured should be filled in green. If the vertical edges of the obtained selected area are deflected in any way, the analyst can reset to the initially detected binary number by clicking the'Cancel' button located in the Binary Edit window, and The selection process is started until the immediately preceding vertical edge on both sides is obtained.

Similarly, the analyst will next be prompted to "select the'protrusion' area for measurement." Now the upper portion of the protrusion area attached to the previously selected ground zone is selected in the same manner previously disclosed for ground zone selection.

Subsequently, the algorithm will automatically perform measurements on both of the selected areas and output the data into an Excel spreadsheet file designated in the form of a bar graph. In the Excel file, the histograms for the ground and protrusion areas will be labeled as “ground height (mm)” and “protrusion + ground height (mm)” respectively. A separate set of histograms will be created for each selection of ground and protrusion area pairs.

The analyst will then be guided back to start the process of placing the sample and selecting different ground and protrusion areas. At this point, the analyst can move the same cross section to a new subsampling location using the auto stage joystick, and completely different mounted cross sections obtained from the same sample can be placed on the auto stage 306 for measurement. . The process for locating the sample and selecting the ground and protrusion areas for measurement will be done six times for each run of the QUIPS algorithm.

The single protrusion height value is then determined by calculating the numerical difference between the average values of the bar graphs of the distinct ground and protrusion areas for each of the single measurement pairs. The QUIPS algorithm will provide a set of 6 radiative measurements of both the ground and protrusion areas for a single sample such that 6 protrusion height values per sample are generated. The final sample mean diffusion value is typically based on an N=6 analysis from 6 distinct subsample measurements. Comparisons between different samples are performed using Student's T analysis at 90% confidence.

For simplicity and brevity, any range of values described in the invention takes into account all values within the range, and supports claims reciting any subrange having an endpoint that is all numerical values within the specific range of the problem. It must be interpreted. As a hypothetical example, disclosures in the range of 1 to 5 include the following ranges 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 1 to 2; 2 to 5; 2 to 4; 2 to 3; 3 to 5; 3 to 4; And 4 to 5 are considered to support a claim.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each of these dimensions is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range around this value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the detailed description are incorporated herein by reference, in relevant parts; Any citation of the literature should not be construed as an admission that it is prior art to the present invention. In the event that any meaning or definition of a term described herein conflicts with any meaning or definition of a term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term described herein will control.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention.

When introducing elements of the present invention or preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention, the phrase "a", "an", "the", "the" means that one or more of the elements are present. The terms "comprising", "having" and "having" are inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Many modifications and variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the above-described exemplary embodiments should not be used as limiting the scope of the present invention.

Claims (13)

As absorbent articles,
a) longitudinal and transverse directions;
b) longitudinal center line and transverse center line;
c) a front area, a rear area, and a central area located between the front area and the rear area;
d) a front area transverse distal edge, a rear area transverse distal edge, and a pair of longitudinal side edges extending between and connecting the front area transverse distal edge and the rear area transverse distal edge;
e) a topsheet layer defining a body facing surface of the absorbent article, a liquid impermeable layer defining a garment facing surface of the absorbent article, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer; And
f) including an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the top sheet layer; The exudate management layer comprises: a first component at least partially defining an opening in the exudate management layer; And a second component connected to the first component through a primary fold and extending from the primary fold in the longitudinal direction toward a rear region of the absorbent article, wherein the opening is the transverse center line And the rear region transverse distal edge. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the exudate management layer is located on the body facing surface of the topsheet layer. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the exudate management layer is located between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising an acquisition layer. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second component comprises a secondary fold. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a third component connected to the first component of the exudate management layer through a third component primary fold. 7. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the third component extends from the third component primary fold in the longitudinal direction towards a front region of the absorbent article. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second component overlaps at least partially over the first component. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second component overlaps at least partially underneath the first component. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article further comprises a pair of opposing anti-leak flaps extending longitudinally of the absorbent article. According to claim 1, The top sheet layer is a support layer comprising a plurality of fibers and opposing first and second surfaces; A protrusion layer comprising a plurality of fibers and opposing inner and outer surfaces, wherein a second surface of the support layer is in contact with the inner surface of the protrusion layer, and at least one of the support layer and the protrusion layer comprises the support layer and the The protrusion layer, the fluid entangled fibers of the other of the protrusion layers; The plurality of hollow protrusions formed of a first plurality of fibers of the protrusion layer, wherein the plurality of hollow protrusions extend from an outer surface of the protrusion layer in a direction away from the support layer. ; And a ground zone, a fluid entangled laminate web, wherein the plurality of hollow protrusions are surrounded by the ground zone. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises a body facing surface and a protrusion extending away from the body facing surface of the absorbent core. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second component comprises at least one opening.

Images